LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

ITT — TA 5 

Chap.j-._-! Copyright Xo..X-U4 
Shelill\3_06 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



/ 

REYNARD THE FOX 



AN EARLY APOLOGUE OF RENOWN 

Clad in an English dress, fashioned according to the German model 
supplied by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 



By 

JOHN STORER COBB. 



WITH CANTON'S ILLUSTRATIONS. 



BOSTON 
DAMRELL & UPHAM 
The Old Corner Bookstore 
1899 



1 




4422 8 



Copyright 1899. 
TWO COPIES RECEIVED, 




I 

• 6C0ND COPY TYPOGRAPHY BY THE BRYANT PRINT, FLORENCE, MASS. 



PREFACE. 



Although so much in the way of com- 
mentary and criticism has been written about 
this renowned apologue, yet is its origin 
still enveloped in an apparently impenetrable 
fog. Many investigators, noted for learning 
and persevering research, have labored to 
clear this away; yet, with every new effort, 
the only result seems to be a further reces- 
sion of the date of its birth. The probability 
of reliable discovery has vanished and naught 
seems left but to relegate it, as one pains- 
taking enquirer has suggested, to prehistoric 
times. 

By some it is regarded as unquestionably 
a European production ; others look upon the 
fundamental stories as the common property 
of various Aryan branches of the human 
family, and as having been brought from 
their Asiatic homes by Teutonic migrants. 
It has certainly been traced back to the tenth 
century, and Jacob Grimm arrives at the 



iv 



PREFACE. 



conclusion that it was then known under 
three forms, with the independent episodes 
in each so related as to furnish unmistakable 
hints of the groundwork of their later blend- 
ing into one continuous narrative. 

As with the date, so with the place, 
of its birth. We have no clear idea of 
where the narrative first saw the light or of 
the form in which it was brought into being. 
The claims of France, Germany, and the 
Netherlands have all been plausibly and 
forcibly advanced, and it has been likewise 
maintained that Latin ought to be regarded 
as the medium through which will be found 
the earliest account of the adventures of 
our famous Reynard. It seems, indeed, to 
have been demonstrated that the oldest extant 
version is in Latin, still the editor of that 
version has no apparent hesitation, after a 
very thorough investigation, in ascribing the 
origin of the poem to Flanders and in con- 
sidering the material of the Flemish copy 
to be derived from some earlier source. 

But, leaving these particulars as of secon- 



PREFACE. 



V 



dary importance, except as an impetus to 
the pleasures of antiquarian research, which 
are not to be despised, let us cast a glance 
at the substance of the famous beast-epic, 
as it has been aptly called. The motive of 
its inspiration is thought by some to have 
been satire. By these it is regarded as a 
satirical exposure of the foibles and vices of 
humanity, with a view to their improvement. 
There are others, however, who consider the 
romance as nothing but the expression of a 
general interest in animal life and habits, 
and as having no satirical basis or educa- 
tional purpose. With our meagre knowledge 
of the original it is hard to form a valid 
judgment upon this question. Nor is it a 
matter of moment. Whatever the primal 
intent, it certainly contains, as we have it 
today, an abundance of satirical allusions to 
the general imbecility of mankind, as well 
as to the vices and iniquities prevalent in 
times past, and not yet altogether extinct, 
among officers and dignitaries of the church 
and the state. 



vi PREFACE. 

The recital of these adventures, of which 
Reynard is the hero, has always been held 
in high esteem among German scholars, but 
it was not until the genius of Goethe had 
gathered them into his delightfully written 
hexameters that the allegory gained a gen- 
eral reception. Now it is so highly appre- 
ciated among his fellow-countrymen that the 
story is to be found in almost every house- 
hold of the land. It would be well if the 
same thing could be said of the English 
speaking peoples of the world, for no one 
can read it without receiving thereby a 
benefit whose value will be in direct ratio 
to the earnestness of the study bestowed 
upon it. Yet among these peoples it has 
never been widely known. Hence this new 
dress. If I shall have succeeded in extend* 
ing the area of its appreciation, my recom- 
pense will be ample ; if not, I shall rest 
contented with the pleasure and the profit 
that I have myself derived from the attempt. 

J. S. C. 



ARGUMENTA. 



CANTO I. 

The Pentecostal days have come, 

And Leo now resolves with some 

Of his good lords to hold a feast, 

At which the greatest and the least 

Shall be commanded to attend. 

The fox, however, keeps away; 

He knows what they of him will say, 

For he has badly injured all; 

So, loudly though they may him call, 

He will not e'en excuses send. 

He there is charged with all the crimes 
That have been known from olden times, 
And only one dares him defend. 
This does not much his matters mend, 
For all the cases are too clear. 
The council then is summoned forth, 
Which thinks that, be he south or north, 
To be compelled to come he ought. 
The king declares he shall be brought, 
And sends to summon him the bear, 
vii 



viii 



ARGUMENTA. 



CANTO II. 

Forth Bruin goes upon his task. 
Assured if he but Reynard ask 
To go with him, as bidden, back, 
He'll find him nothing loth or slack. 
But Reynard is of other mind ; 
He pleasant greeting gives the bear 
And asks what he with him can share; 
Then, finding honey's to his taste, 
He takes him to a place in haste 
Where he a good supply shall find. 

To get the honey Bruin sticks, 
Through one of Reynard's scurvy tricks, 
His head within a gaping tree; 
And if you read you'll surely see 
How the peasants, learning that, 
Find him in a sorry plight, 
And beat him till, in sheer affright, 
He makes escape and gets again 
Back to court in grief and pain; 
And in his place is sent the cat. 



CANTO III. 

Now Tybert meets an omen bad, 
But still pursues his way, though sad. 
He finds the fox, his message gives; 
Then Reynard asks him how he thrives 



ARGUMENTA. 



And what he would prefer to eat. 
When mice he finds that he would like, 
He plays him, too, a dirty trick. 
With eye knocked out and wounded sore 
The cat gets back to court once more, 
Like Bruin lamed in head and feet. 

The Badger now essays to do 

What bear and cat have let fall through. 

A third time does the fox not dare 

To disregard, or he will fare 

Full badly at his monarch's hand. 

With Grimbart he at length sets out, 

Beset with many an anxious doubt ; 

He finally begins to pray, 

So Grimbart shrives him on the way 

And warns him evil to withstand. 



CANTO IV. 

i 

Excitement's high when it is known 

That Reynard now draws near the throne. 

No sooner there than he begins 

To shift on others all his sins 

And boast of service to the king. 

This, howe'er, doth naught avail, 

For all the beasts do him assail 

And bring complaints, by anger moved. 

Their charges are considered proved, 

And he condemned for them to swing. 



ARGUMENTA. 



But now he talks of treasures vast, 
Which he discovered in the past ; 
And tells of crimes that then were rife, 
And plots to take the monarch's life 
And set up Bruin in his place. 
These words the king do greatly rouse, 
And likewise much excite his spouse; 
So he is ordered to descend 
And tell them all from end to end, 
Without evasion, face to face. 

CANTO V. 

Reynard now the plot sets forth, 

And shows the treasure's princely worth; 

Maligns his father, scores the bear, 

And makes the badger out as clear 

A traitor as was ever found. 

He tells what he himself has done, 

For firmer friend the king has none. 

To frustrate all their base designs. 

Of how he's treated then he whines, 

As if in loyalty not sound. . 

The king and queen his lies believe, 
And promise that he shall receive 
Forgiveness full for all mistakes 
That he has made, or ever makes, 
If only now he change his life. 
He, too, before returning home, 



A.RGUMENTA. 



Permission gets to visit Rome, 
To get release from papal ban, 
Which Leo thinks a worthy plan, 
As also does the queen, his wife. 



CANTO VI. 

Now Reynard to the wolves' dismay, 
From both their hides has cut away 
A slice, to make him sack and shoes, 
And then upon his journey goes ; 
But first he by the priest is blest. 
A cavalcade of nobles go 
With him some steps, respect to show; 
But ram and hare induces he 
To travel on, his home to see, 
And there before return to rest. 

Inside the house he takes the hare, 
And slaughters him as soon as there ; 
His head he puts within the sack, 
Which by the ram he sendeth back, 
As if it bore a king's despatch 
The head is found, the ram's condemned, 
And with the captives matters mend ; 
Once more to honor they are brought, 
And Reynard's life again is sought, 
Who deed so dastardly could hatch. 



xii 



ARGUMENTA. 

CANTO VII. 



A feast of such display and size 

Is seldom seen by mortal eyes 

As now is carried on because 

The wolves and bear, against just laws, 

Have been to punishment condemned. 

Before its close, complaints anew 

Against the fox are brought to view; 

The rabbit and the crow lament 

That he on them his spite hath spent, 

And urge the king such things to end. 

An expedition now is formed, 

And Reynard's fort is to be stormed ; 

Each one desires that he be sent, 

For they his acts do all resent, 

And would chastise him out of hand. 

The badger runs the fox to find, 

And tell him what they have in mind; 

Then him induces back to go. 

As he will have much better show 

If there on his defense he stand. 

CANTO VIII. 

The fox again that journey takes, 
A second time confession makes, 
And as before he tries to shift 
His sins to others' backs, and lift 



ARGUMENT A 



The burden thus from off his own. 
The clergy now he takes in hand, 
The king and courtiers of the land: 
These all can do whate'er they will, 
But should a poor man fall, they'll fill 
The air with shrieks and hunt him down. 

The ape now comes upon the two, 
And tells the fox bold front to show; 
To Rome he goes, and there he will 
Make slander's tongue keep very still 
And Reynard's matters straighten out. 
He knows them all at court of Rome, 
With all their tactics is at home ; 
His kinsmen are in numbers there, 
With them he'll manage this affair, 
And Reynard need not give it thought. 

CANTO IX. 

With Grimbart Reynard comes to court, 

Begins a discourse far from short, 

In which he labors hard to show 

That his accusers, as they know, 

Dare naught against him bring point-blank. 

He challenges to mortal strife 

Each one of those who seek his life 

And equals are with him in birth; 

For thus is settled, o'er the earth, 

Disputes 'tween gentlemen of rank. 



xiv 



ARGUMENTA. 



The king in fury seeks his room, 

And there he finds the queen, with whom 

Dame Riickenau, old Martin's wife, 

In converse is about this strife. 

She Reynard's cause begins to plead, 

Shows how in court his father shone, 

How Reynard, too, had often done 

Most worthy deeds where others failed. 

The king his anger then bewailed, 

And let the fox again proceed. 



CANTO X. 

The fox describes those treasures vast 

Mentioned in some cantos past: 

I meant them all for queen and king, 

And now the ram has everything, 

Which naught can e'er replace, purloined; 

Those things I sent by ram and hare, 

And thus am caught within a snare, 

For Bellyn has poor Lampen killed; 

A comrade's blood he's foully spilled, 

With whom he was as envoy joined. 

And I am charged with this base crime ; 
You think me guilty every time 
Some wicked handicraft is done, 
Though I am ever on the run 
My king to serve, whom I adore. 



ARGUMENT A. 

His speech is clever, well designed, 
The king's induced to change his mind, 
Extends to Reynard leave to go 
And seek those treasures high and low; 
But Isengrim feels very sore. 

CANTO XI. 

The wolf in ferment seeks the king, 
The air with caustic words doth ring; 
The king hears all he has to say, 
And then decides that Reynard may 
His version of the matter give. 
The fox once more, with tricks of speech. 
Makes out himself a saint, who'd teach 
All beasts how proper lives to lead; 
Yet they through spite, he says, proceed 
To claim that he's not fit to live. 

The furious wolf throws down his glove, 
To signify that he will prove. 
In combat, all his charges true. 
Poor Reynard now can nothing do 
But take the challenge up and fight. 
The she-ape comes and proffers aid 
And Reynard soon by her is made 
All ready for the coming strife, 
In which is wagered life for life, 
To manifest where dwells the right. 



xvi 



ARGUMENTA. 



CANTO XII. 

The fox and wolf within the ring 

Their duel fight before the king; 

And never have elsewhere before 

Sly Reynard's tricks availed him more. 

With body shorn and laved with oil 

Evades he all the wolf's attacks; 

And then with subtle twists and knacks 

He conquers Isengrim outright. 

Low cunning better serves than might, 

In folly's strife or reason's toil. 

The wolf from off the field is borne, 

Defeated, wounded, and forlorn; 

His wife and friends about him grieve, 

And think that he can hardly live. 

But Reynard is exalted high; 

Success has brought a change of front; 

The king and all who him were wont 

To vilify are now his friends. 

And thus it is this fable ends; 

Its moral you can now supply. 



REYNARD THE FOX 



CANTO ONE 



Whitsun, that fairest of feasts, had arrived; 
the forest and field 

Rejoiced in new life ; on hillock and knoll, 
in thicket and hedge, 

The newly inspirited birds were singing 
their jubilant song; 

The meads were all sprouting with flowers, 
infilling with fragrance the dales, 

The heavens resplendently clear, and blush- 
ing the earth like a bride. 



King Leo assembles his court ; the vassals 

and lords of the realm, 
Called hither, make haste with the greatest 

of pomp. Among them arrive 



2 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Great numbers of arrogant peers from the 

length and the breadth of the land, 
Lord Grusly the crane, sir Pica the jay, 

and all of the chiefs. 
Then makes up the monarch his mind, with 

all of his barons, at once 10 
In splendor and state to hold court, and 

bids to be thither convoked 
Together regardless of caste the little as 

well as the great. 
Of all not a soul should be missed ; but ab- 
sent, however, was one, 
Sly Reynard, that rascal and knave, who, 

because of his many misdeeds, 
Himself kept away from the court. As 

shuns the conscience depraved 
The light of the day, so avoided the fox 

this assembly of lords, 
For each of them had to complain that 

harm he had done to them all, 
And Grimbart the badger alone, the son of 

his brother, had spared. 
Wolf, Isengrim, opened the case, and with 

him in court there appeared 



CANTO I. 



His kinsmen, adherents, and friends; escorted 

and succored by these, 20 
He stepped up in front of the king and 

began with the following speech : 
Most worshipful monarch and lord, give ear 

to my grievances, pray ; 
Thou art noble and great and renowned, 

and to each of us all dost accord 
Justice and mercy and grace ; compassion 

then show for the wrongs 
That I, with such boundless reproach, have 

suffered from Reynard, the fox; 
And bear well in mind, above all, that 

times without number he has, 
In malice, made sport of my wife, and my 

children most basely ill-used. 
Yes, he has them with foulness defiled, 

with pestilent, virulent filth, 
Whereby I have still three at home with 

harrowing blindness distressed. 
These offences were all, it is true, discussed 

by us both long ago, 30 
And a day, indeed, was ordained to settle 

the things in dispute ; 



4 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



He plighted his word under oath, but soon 

his intention he changed, 
And then to his fortress he nimbly escaped. 

Too well is this known 
By those who are here in the court and 

now all about me I see. 
My lord, the vexation and grief the villain 

has caused me I could 
Not attempt to relate with hurrying words 

in multiplied weeks. 
Were all of the linen from Ghent, what- 
ever the quantity made, 
At once into parchment reduced, the story 

it would not contain, 
And I will be silent thereon, yet my wife's 

defamation and shame 
Eats into my heart, and I would it avenge, 

let happen what may. 40 

Now when in this sorrowful , mood Isengrim 

thus had declaimed, 
A puppy, named Nidget, stepped up and, 

timidly speaking in French, 



CANTO I. 5 

Told the monarch how poor he'd become, so 
that nothing at all had been left 

For his use but a morsel of sausage laid up 
in a winter retreat ; 

And Reynard had robbed him of that. Then 
hurriedly sprang forth the cat, 

Mad Tybert, with fury, and said : Com- 
mander, distinguished and high, 

No one has cause to complain that the 
scoundrel may do him a wrong 

Any more than our sovereign himself. In 
this convocation I say 

There is none, be he aged or young, but 
dreads more intensely the scamp 

Than even yourself. There's nothing, how- 
ever, to Nidget's lament; 50 

A number of years have gone by since the 
acts that he mentions occurred, 

And seeing the sausage was mine, 'twas I 
who complaint should have made. 

I went to take part in a hunt and, while 
thus engaged, I ran through 

A mill in the night; the miller's wife slept, 
and I quietly seized 



6 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



A sausage quite small ; I will it confess. 

Now, pray, to the same 
Had Nidget a shadow of right, then he 

owed it to labor of mine. 

And the panther began : What use are 

these wordy complaints ? 
They little achieve ; be content, the evil's 

as clear as the day ; 
A thief and a cut-throat he is, this at 

least I will boldly assert; 
Indeed you, my lords, are aware that he 

perpetrates all the known crimes. 60 
Should all of the nobles, indeed, or you, 

our most worshipful king, 
Of goods and of honor be robbed, he 

would laugh could he get for himself, 
By chance, but a morsel thereby of a capon 

well fattened and plump. 
Let me bring to your knowledge what he 

so wickedly did yestermorn 
To Lampen, the hare ; here he stands, the 

man who has never done wrong. 



CANTO I. 



7 



Reynard assumed the devout, and would in 

all kinds of device 
Him shortly instruction impart, including a 

chaplain's pursuits ; 
So facing each other they sat and their 

task with the Credo began. 
But abandon old tricks and their use, was 

Reynard not able to do ; 
Within the safe conduct and peace bestowed 

and assured by our king 70 
He Lampen held fast in his fangs, and 

worried with malice and spite 
The good honest man like a fiend. I 

wended my way through the street 
And heard the low chant of the two, 

which, almost as soon as begun, 
Was brought to an end. I listened sur- 
prised but, when I drew near, 
I recognized Reynard forthwith ; he Lampen 

held fast by the throat, 
And surely had taken his life if I, by good 

luck, in my walk, 
Had not then arrived on the scene. Here 

now in your presence he stands ; 



8 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Just look at the wounds he received, that 
innocent person whom none 

Would ever attempt to molest. And should 
our good master permit, 

Or ever your lordships endure, that thus 
may the peace of the king, 80 

His warrant and license, be mocked and 
made of no worth by a thief, 

I fear me that yet will the king be forced 
with his offspring to hear 

A tardy reproach from the folk, who rev- 
erence justice and right. 

Isengrim said in reply: You say what is 

true, and, alas ! 
The fox never will any good to us do, 

and I heartily wish 
The fellow were dead long ago; that for 

peace-loving folk had been best, 
And if we him pardon again, then will he, 

before very long, 
Some of us boldly entrap, who at present 

imagine it least. 



CANTO I. 



9 



Reynard's nephew, the badger, now spoke, 
and with courage and force 

In Reynard's behalf he held forth, de- 
praved as the latter was known. 90 

The maxim, though old, he remarked, is- 
true, my lord Isengrim, proved: 

There is little that's good in an enemy's 
words. Thus my uncle, in truth, 

Small comfort will find in your speech; 
yet is that of but little account. 

Were he at the court to reply to your 
words, and enjoyed he with you 

The favor and grace of the king, then 
might it you surely repent 

That you had so spoken in spite, and all 
this old tattle revived. 

The evil, however, that you to Reynard him- 
self have produced 

You are silent about , and yet to my lords- 
in great number 'tis known 

How together a compact you made, and 
each to the other engaged 

As two equal colleagues to % live. Here's 
something I ought to relate : 100 



10 REYNARD THE FOX. 

How once in the winter himself he put to 
the greatest of risks 

Altogether for you. A man with a wagon 
full laden with fish 

Was pacing the street; you scented him out 
and willingly would 

Have feasted yourself on his goods; but 
alas, you no money possessed, 

So persuaded my uncle to help; and him- 
self he with craftiness laid 

At once in the road as if dead. By heav- 
ens, that venture was bold! 

Yet notice what species of fish, he got for 
the risk that he took. 

The carrier came to the spot, my uncle 
perceived in the road, 

And hastily drew out his sword to evict 
him forthwith, but he lay 

As if dead ; he made not a motion or 
sign, and the wagoner then no 

Threw him up on the top of his cart, glad 
of the skin in advance. 

Yes! that dared my uncle for Isengrim's 
sake ; the cartman at once 



CANTO I. II 

Continued his way, and Reynard threw 

some of the fish to the ground ; 
Then Isengrim came sneaking in from afar, 

and ate it all up. 
Reynard thought it not well any longer to 

ride, so lifted himself 
And sprang from the cart; and now he 

himself on the booty would feed, 
But gobbled had Isengrim all ; indeed so 

completely had he 
Himself overgorged, he was ready to burst ; 

the bones cleanly picked 
Were the only things he had left, which 

remnants he offered his friend. 
One more little trick I will tell, which also 

is naught but the truth: 120 
To Reynard it known had become, on a 

a nail at a countryman's house 
Hung a well fattened swine, but yesterday 

killed ; of this he informed 
With frankness the wolf ; they went to the 

place, the profit and risk 
To fairly divide ; but the danger and toil 

bore Reynard alone. 



12 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Right in at the window he crept, and then 

with great labor he threw 
The booty for both below to the wolf ; just 

now, by ill luck, 
Not far from the place were some dogs, 

who scented him out in the house 
And stalwartly tugged at his skin. Sore 

wounded he made his escape, 
And Isengrim quickly sought out, to him 

made complaint of his woes, 
Demanding his share of the meat. And 

Isengrim thereupon said: 13a 
For you a fine morsel I've saved ; now earn- 
estly set you to work 
And heartily gnaw at it well; how much 

you will relish the fat. 
He brought the delicious piece forth; 'twas 

nought but the crook upon which 
The butcher had hung up the hog. The 

savory flesh and the fat 
Had been gulped by the covetous wolf, that 

base and iniquitous beast. 
Now Reynard, from rage, was unable to 

speak ; but the turn of his thoughts 



CANTO I. 



13 



You can think for yourself. Great king, of 

a truth, in a hundred and more 
Of matters like this has the wolf to my 

uncle behaved like a knave. 
But not a word more about that ; were 

Reynard himself summoned here, 
His case he would better defend. Mean- 
while, most beneficent king, 140 
Most noble of masters and lords, I here beg 

to notice that you 
And all of these lords will have heard how 

stupidly Isengrim's speech 
Hath damaged the wife of his choice, and 

tarnished her honor, which he 
With limb and with life should defend. 

Now these are the facts of the case : 
Years seven and more have arrived and gone 

by since my uncle bestowed, 
Without any thought of reserve, his love 

and allegiance upon 
Dame Greedimund's beauty and charms. 

This happened one night at a dance 
Which Isengrim failed to attend; I say what 
I know to be true. 



* 



14 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Most friendly and pleasantly oft has she his 

advances received. 
Now what is there more to be said? She 

never has made any charge; 150 
Moreover she lives and is well, so why 

does he make such a fuss? 
He silence would keep were he wise ; it 

brings to him only disgrace. 
The badger then further remarked : Now 

comes this romance of the hare ! 
Detestable, vacuous talk ! Should not a good 

master, forsooth, 
His pupil correct, if he be not attentive and 

evil withstand? 
If never we punished our boys, and put not 

a potent -restraint 
On frivolous habits and bad, into what would 

develop our youth? 
Young Nidget next comes and complains, 

how a sausage, one winter, he lost 
Aback of the hedge ; but this should he 

rather in silence endure, 
For certainly hear we it said that some one 

had stolen the thing. 160 



CANTO I. 



Goes lightly what lightly is got ; and who 

can my uncle reproach 
For easing a thief of his stolen effects? It 

surely is right 
That men of high station and birth, them- 
selves to rascals and thieves 
Should hateful and dangerous show. Why I 

had he him thereupon hanged, 
Excuse there had been ; yet he set him at 

large to honor the king, 
For penance by death to inflict has no one 

the right but the king. 
The requital, however, is poor, on which can 

my uncle rely, 
How guileless so e'er he may be and deeds 

that are evil impede. 
As matter of fact, ever since the peace of 

the king was proclaimed, 
Conducts himself no one as he. He has 

altered completely his life; 170 
Eats but one meal a day, like an anchoret 

lives, chastises himself, 
Wears raiment of hair on unsheltered skin, 

and has also for long 



l6 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Desisted entirely from flesh of all kinds, both 

domestic and wild, 
As yesterday I was informed by one who 

had stayed at his house, 
He has left Malepartus, his fort, and built 

a small hut for himself, 
In which as a hermit to live. How lately 

so thin he's become, 
So pallid from hunger and thirst and other 

like penances sharp, 
That he in repentance endures, yourselves 

into that will enquire. 
Then what can it matter to him if all who 

are here him accuse? 
Should he but arrive, his rights he'd uphold 

and them put to shame. 180 

When Grimbart had drawn to a close, to the 

wonder of all there appeared 
Henning, the cock, with the whole of his 

brood. On a sorrowful bier, 
Despoiled of her neck and her head, was a 

hen carried slowly within ; 



CANTO I. 



1/ 



Poor Scraper it turned out to be, most pro- 
lific of egg-laying hens; 

Alas, how her blood trickled down ! and 
Reynard had caused it to flow. 

This now must be brought to the ear of the 
king. When Henning, the brave, 

Presented himself to the king with sad and 
most grief-stricken face, 

Came with him still other two cocks, who 
also lamented their loss. 

The one of them Kreyant was called, and 
no better cock could be found 

If Holland and France were explored ; the 
other, who stood by his side, 190 

Was known by the name of Kantart, a 
fellow straightforward and stout. 

Each carried a candle alight, and it hap- 
pened that brothers were both 

Of the massacred hen they brought in ; and 
over the murder they cried 

For trouble and pain. Two younger cocks 
were supporting the bier, 

And the wailing they made as they came 
could plainly be heard afar off. 



1 8 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



At length Henning spake: That loss we 

bewail which none can repair, 
Benevolent master and king ! Oh, pity the 

wrong we endure, 
My children as well as myself! Here look 

you on Reynard's foul deed. 
When winter had from us gone by, and 

leaves and blossoms and flowers 
Invited us all to be glad, I much in my 

offspring rejoiced, 200 
That spent the delectable days so blithely 

and gaily with me. 
Ten juvenile sons with daughters fourteen, 

and all of them full 
Of relish and pleasure in life ; my wife, 

that most excellent hen, 
Together had brought them all up in a 

summer as happy as long; 
They all were robust and content with their 

lot, and provided themselves 
Each day with the food they required at a 

spot that was thought to be safe. 
The court-yard belonged to rich monks, and 

its walls were a shelter to us 



CANTO I. 



19 



And six immense dogs. These partners, so 

noble and brave, of our home 
Were much to my children attached and 

sharply watched over their lives ; 
But Reynard, that thief, it annoyed that we,, 

in contentment and peace, 210 
Such gay, happy days should enjoy, and 

meantime escape from his wiles; 
By night he would sneak round the walls, 

and waiting would lie at the gate ; 
But the dogs found it out, so he took to 

his heels; yet boldly, at length, 
They managed to collar him once, and then 

they made holes in his fur ; 
Yet out of their hands he escaped, and left 

us in peace for awhile. 
Now give me your ear; this lasted not long; 

he soon came again 
As a monk, and brought me a writing and 

seal ; 'twas one that I knew ; 
Your signet I saw on the deed, in which I 

found clearly inscribed 
That you a firm peace had proclaimed, as 

well with the birds as the beasts. 



20 REYNARD THE FOX. 

To me the announcement he made that he 

a good monk had become, 220 
Had taken the solemnest vow atonement to 

make for his crimes, 
Of which he acknowledged his guilt. From 

that time should no one from him 
Have anything further to fear. He had 

sacredly taken an oath 
That meat never more would he taste. He 

directed my eyes to his cowl 
And his scapular showed. In addition to 

this, he a symbol displayed, 
Which the prior upon him had placed; 

and, in order me more to assure > 
Beneath showed a garment of hair. Then 

taking departure he said: 
Farewell, in the name of the Lord. I 

have still a great number of things 
To do before close of the day. The Sexts 

I must read and the Nones, 
With Vespers appended thereto. He read 

as he walked, and devised 230 
Numerous schemes that were base ; to effect 

our destruction he planned. 



CANTO I. 



2 I 



With a heart full of gladness and joy I 

soon to my children made known 
Your letter's good message of cheer. They 

all ^\ere entranced at the news! 
Since Reynard a monk had become, for us 

not a thing was there left 
Any further to care for or fear. I strutted 

together with them, 
On the outermost side of the walls, and we 

all in our freedom rejoiced. 
But alas ! matters went with us ill ; in am- 
bush he craftily hid, 
And thence springing suddenly forth, he 

barred up our way to the gate ; 
The fairest he seized of my sons, and 

dragged him away to devour; 
And now not a thing could we do ; when 

once he had tasted their flesh 240 
He ever was trying again, and neither the 

hunters nor hounds 
Could make us secure from his snares, not 

either by day or by night. 
And thus nearly all of my children he 

took, till now from a score 



22 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Their number to five is reduced ; of the 

rest he has carried off all. 
Oh, pity my woeful distress! But a day 

has gone by since he slew 
This daughter of mine that is here, whose 

body was saved by the dogs. 
Observe ! Here she lies ! That deed he 

has done ; oh, take it to heart. 

Then answered the monarch and said: 
Grimbart, come nearer, and look ! 

In this way abstains our recluse, and thus 
he his penitence shows! 

From now should I live but a year, be 
sure that he shall it repent. 250 

But what is the use of our words? Thou 
heart-broken Henning, give heed ; 

Thy daughter for nothing shall want, what- 
ever it be, that belongs 

By custom or right to the dead. I will 
see that her vigil be sung, 

That she with all honor be laid in the 
earth; when that has been done, 

We council will take with these lords on 
the penalty due to the crime. 



CANTO I. 



23 



Then issued the king- a command that ser- 
vice be held for the dead. 

Domino placebo the people assembled began, 
and they sang 

Each stanza composing it through. I also 
could further relate 

By whom was the service intoned, by whom 
the responses as well. 

But that too .much time would employ, and 
therefore I leave it alone. 260 

Her body was laid in a grave, over which 
was erected a fair 

Marble stone, polished up like a glass, and 
cut in the form of a square, 

Quite bulky and tall, and upon it, above, 
could plainly be read : 

Here Scraper, the daughter of Henning, 
doth lie, most faithful of hens, 

Laid numerous eggs in her nest, and pru- 
dently knew how to scratch. 

Alas, here she lies ! from her family torn 
by the murderous fox. 

All in the world shall be taught how wicked 
and vile he behaved, 



24 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And bemoan the deceased. Thus ran the 
inscription engraven thereon. 



This having been done, the king had the 
wisest convoked 

To counsel with him and advise as to how 
should be punished the crime 270 

That now had so clearly been brought to 
the knowledge of him and his lords; 

At length their opinion they gave, that un- 
to the mischievous scamp 

An envoy at once be dispatched, that, willy 
or nilly, he dare 

Not refuse to obey; that he at the court 
of the king shall appear 

On the day when the judges next time to- 
gether assemble therein. 

And chosen was Bruin, the bear, the sum- 
mons to take; and the king 

Thus spake unto Bruin, the bear: As mas- 
ter I give you advice 

Your errand with zeal to perform; yet 
prudence and caution I charge, 



CANTO I. 



For Reynard's malicious and mean ; devices 
and tricks of all kinds 

He surely will bring into play ; will flatter 
and stuff you with lies, 280 

And all that is possible cheat. Twice will 
he think about that, 

Replied, with assurance, the bear. Let 
nought you disturb, for if he 

Misjudge by the breadth of a hair and ven- 
ture his scorn upon me, 

Then by the eternal I swear, that his ven- 
geance upon me may fall 

If I do not so pay it him back, that know 
where he is he will not. 28 5 



26 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



CANTO TWO. 

Thus ordered, sir Bruin pursued his way to 

the mountainous ridge, 
With haughty and confident heart, through 

a wilderness sterile and vast, 
Long and sandy and broad; and, when 

this at length he had passed, 
He came very . close to the hills where 

wonted was Reynard to hunt; 
Indeed, in the days that were gone, he 

pleasure had sought there himself. 
But the bear further went, Malepartus towards, 

where Reynard had long 
Fine buildings in number possessed. Of 

• all his strong castles and burgs, 
Of which to him many belonged, he thought 

Malepartus the best. 
In this Reynard made his abode, whenever 

a danger he sniffed. 
When Bruin the castle attained, the gate 

of admittance he found 10 
Fast bolted and locked, so before it he 

walked and reflected somewhat. 



CANTO II. 



27 



He finally shouted and said : Are you, 

my dear uncle, at home? 
Bruin, the bear, has arrived, judicially sent 

by the king. 
Our monarch has taken an oath that now 

at the bar of his court 
Yourself you shall place upon trial, and I 

am your escort to be ; 
That justice you shall not refuse to render 

to all and accept ; 
If not it will cost you your life, for if you 

shall tarry behind, 
With rack you are threatened and wheel. 

I advise you to choose for the best, 
And come with me back to the court, it 

else will you evil betide. 

This speech, from beginning to end, Rey- 
nard did perfectly hear; 20 

In silence he listened and thought : How 
would it, I wonder, result, 

If I the unmannerly churl should pay for 
his arrogant words? 



28 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Let us upon it reflect. To the depths of 

his dwelling he went, 
Into its corners and nooks, for built was 

the castle with skill ; 
Caverns and dungeons there were, and many 

dark corridors too, 
Both narrow and long, and doors of all 

kinds to be opened and shut 
As time and necessity called. When sought 

for he found that he was, 

Because of some rascally deed, here found 

» 

he the best of defence. 
Through simplicity too had he oft in these 

labyrinthian ways 
Poor animals cheated and caught, acceptable 

prey to the thief. 30 
Now Reynard the words had well heard, 

but yet did he cunningly fear 
That near to the messenger still might 

others in ambush be couched. 
But when he himself had assured that the 

bear had arrived all alone, 
He went slyly out and exclaimed : My 

dearest of uncles, you are 



"Your pardon I beg! I vespers have read, 
And thus have I caused you to wait." 



CANTO II. 



2 9 



Very welcome, I'm sure! Your pardon I 

beg! I vespers have read, 
And thus have I caused you to wait ; my 

thanks for this visit accept, 
It surely will help me in court ; at least so 

permit me to hope. 
You are welcome, my uncle, whatever the 

hour; however, I think 
That censure must rest upon him who you 

on this journey has sent, 
For long and fatiguing it is. Oh, heavens, 

how heated you are ! 40 
You've not a dry hair in your head, your 

breathing anxiety shows. 
Had this mighty monarch of ours no mes- 
senger other to send 
Than the noblest of men at his court, exalted 

by him above all? 
Yet thus it must be of great service to me ; 

and now I entreat 
Your help at the court of the king, where 

I am so badly defamed. 
Tomorrow I'd made up my mind, in spite 

of the risk that I run, 



30 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Unbidden to go to the court, and such my 

intention remains ; 
I'm not in condition today, to try such a 

journey to take : 
I've eaten too freely, alas, of a dish that 

I relish not much, 
And one that agrees with me not ; it causes 

my belly great pain. 50 
Bruin responded, to this : What was it my 

uncle? The fox 
Replied in his turn : What good would it 

do, if you I should tell? 
With sorrow prolong I my life, but still 

I'm resigned to my fate. 
The poor cannot ever be lords, and if at 

odd times can be found 
No food that is better for us and for ours, 

then truly we must 
Some combs of sweet honey devour, which 

always with ease can be had ; 
Yet eat it I only from need ; and swollen 

at present I am. 
The stuff I reluctantly ate, how then could 

it nourishment give? 



CANTO II. 31 

If without it I ever can do, it rests far 
enough from my tongue. 

Heigh-ho, responded the bear, what is it, 

my uncle, you say! 60 
Do you in reality scorn the nectar that so 

many crave? 
Good honey, 1 must you inform, surpasses 

all dishes there are, 
At least to my taste; oh, help me to 

some ! You shall it not rue ! 
The favor I will you return. You are 

mocking, the other replied. 
Protested the bear: I am not; indeed I 

mean just what I say. 
If that is the case, then you I can serve, 

the red one replied. 
The husbandman, Riisteviel, lives below at 

the foot of the hill, 
And plenty of honey has he. Indeed, 

among all of your race 
Saw you never collected so much. Then 

lusted the bear overmuch 



32 REYNARD THE FOX. 

To eat of his favorite food. Oh, take me, 

my uncle, he cried, 70 
Without losing time, to the place ; your 

kindness I'll never forget; 
Supply me with honey I beg, even though 

not enough can be got. 
Come on, said the fox in reply, of honey 

no lack shall we find ; 
Today, it is true, I am bad on the feet, 

yet shall the regard 
Which long I have cherished for you, en- 
courage my wearisome steps ; 
For I know not a soul among those who 

to me are connected by blood 
Whom I honor, my uncle, as you ! So 

come, and you will, in return, 
Me serve at the court of the king, when 

there I shall have to appear, 
That I to confusion may put the charges 

and strength of my foes. 
With honey I'll fill you today, as much as 

you ever could wish. 80 
He was thinking, the scamp, of the blows 

the peasants would give in their wrath. 



CANTO II. 33 

Reynard in front hurried off and Bruin 

came blindly behind. 
If I but succeed, thought the fox, I yet 

shall conduct you today 
To a market in which unto you bitter 

honey apportioned will be. 
They came up to Rusteviel's yard, which 

greatly elated the bear; 
But in vain, as fools very often themselves 

with hopes lead astray. 



Eve had already set in, and Reynard quite 

well was aware 
That Riisteviel lay, as a rule, just now in 

his chamber in bed. 
He a carpenter was, a craftsman of skill, 

and down in his yard 
Was lying the trunk of an oak, in order 

to split which he had 90 
Two good solid wedges inserted therein, so 

far that on top 
Gaped open the tree near the width of an 

ell. This Reynard observed 



34 REYNARD THE EOX. 

And said to the bear : Dear uncle, inside 

of this tree will be found 
More honey than you would suspect, now 

thrust in it quickly your snout 
As far as you possibly can. I merely 

would risk the advice 
That in greed you take not too much : it 

might with you badly agree. 
Do you. said the bear, for a glutton me 

take? Why no. not at all. 
But temperance always is good, whatever it 

be that you do. 
Thus was outwitted the bear ! his head he 

stuck into the crack, 
Yea, even right up to his ears, and further- 
more both his front paws. 100 
Then earnestly Reynard fell to. with many 

strong pulls and good tugs, 
And both of the wedges tore out. Xow 

was the brown fellow caught. 
Held fast by his head and his feet, nor 

scolding nor coaxing availed. 
Bruin now had a-plenty to do, for all of 

his boldness and strength : 



CANTO II. 



35 



And thus kept the nephew with craft his 

uncle encaged in the tree. 
With howls now lamented the bear, and 

tore, with his hindermost claws, 
So fiercely and raised such a row that 

Riisteviel sprang out of bed 
And wondered whatever was up ; he took 

along with him his axe, 
So as weaponless not to be found, should 

any one try him to harm. 



Bruin was now in a terrible fix; for the 

narrowing crack no 
Was pinching him hard ; he struggled and 

pulled and roared with his pain ; 
His efforts, however, were all of no use ; 

he fully believed 
That never therefrom should he come; so 

Reynard, too, joyfully thought. 
When he in the distance observed Riisteviel 

coming, he cried : 
Bruin, how do you feel? Be thrifty and 

eat not the honey all up ! 



36 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Does it taste very good? Riisteviel comes 

and will give you a treat; 
He brings you a sip for your meal; I hope 

it will with you agree. 
Then Reynard pursued his way back, Mal- 

epartus, his fortress to gain ; 
But Riisteviel came in his stead and, when 

he put eyes on the bear, 
He ran all the peasants to call, who in 

company still at the inn 120 
Were over their cups. Come on, he cried 

out, in my yard there is caught 
A bear in a trap ; that really is so. They 

followed in haste, 
Each arming himself with despatch as well as 

the time would allow. 
The first took a fork in his hand, another 

brought with him his rake, 
And likewise a third and a fourth, provided 

with hatchet and spear, 
Came bounding with vigorous strides; a 

fifth was equipped with a pole. 
The sexton and even the priest came on 

with the tools of their trade. 



CANTO II. 



37 



And also the clergyman's cook, (of whom 

was Dame Yulock the name, 
And who as none other a porridge could 

serve) remained not behind, 
But ran with her distaff in hand, at which 

all the day she had sat, 130 
To curry the skin of the luckless bear. 

Bruin heard, as the) 7 came, 
The increasing and deafening din with all 

its most horrible notes, 
And forcibly tore out his head from the 

cleft ; but yet there remained 
The hair and the skin of his face, as far 

as his ears, in the tree. 
Indeed, not a wretcheder beast has anyone 

seen, for the blood 
Trickled over his ears. But what did he 

gain by releasing his head? 
For still were his paws firmly held in the 

tree ; now backing he tore 
Them hastily out with a jerk ; he raved as 

if out of his mind, 
His claws and the skin from his feet being 

left in the narrowing crack. 



38 REYNARD THE FOX. 

No taste of sweet honey had this; alas, it 

was not such as that 140 
Which Reynard him led to expect. The 

outing was wickedly planned, 
A sorrowful trip to the bear it had proved; 

his beard and his paws 
Were covered all over with blood; he was 

wholly unable to stand, 
Unable to walk or to crawl. Now Riiste- 

viel hastened to strike ; 
He was fallen upon by them all who had 

with the master arrived; 
Their aim was to put him to death. The 

priest for preparedness brought 
A staff of some length in his hand, and 

waled him therewith from afar. 
Now hither and thither in sadness he 

turned, hemmed in by the crowd; 
Some here bearing pikes, others with axes 

out there, while the smith 
Brought hammer and tongs to the fray, 

and others with shovels arrived, 1 50 
Some also with spades, and shouting they 

pummelled at random and struck, 



CANTO II. 



39 



Till he, out of harrowing fear, wallowed 
in foulness his own. 

In the onset they all took a hand; not one 
of them all stayed away. 

And Hulyn, the bow-legged clown, with 
Ludolph, the flat-nozzled rogue, 

By far were the worst; and Gerold aloft 
swung the hard wooden flail 

His long crooked fingers between; his broth- 
er-in-law at his side, 

The burly old Korkoran, stood; these two 
struck him worst of them all. 

Dames Yulock and Abelquack too had also 
their part in the strife, 

The latter, the worse of the two, struck the 
poor thing with her tub. 

And those above named were not all ; the 
women as well as the men 160 

All ran to the spot, determined to have 
the life of the bear. 

Old Korkoran made the most noise, regard- 
ing himself as the chief ; 

For Poggy of Chafport was known his 
mother to be very well, 



40 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And that by the sinister bar, but his father 

was never revealed ; 
The peasants, however, believed that Sander 

was probably he, 
The dark-featured gleaner of straw, a fellow 

robust and superb 
When he by himself was alone. Stones 

also came flying with force, 
And harrassed the. desperate bear, as they 

from all sides were received. 
Now Rusteviel's brother jumped up and 

struck, with a long sturdy club, 
The bear on the top of his head, so hard 

that both hearing and sight 170 
Were wholly destroyed ; yet started he up 

from the vigorous stroke 
And, enraged, at the women he rushed, 

who into confusion were thrown, 
And tottered and tumbled and yelled, and 

into the water some fell ; 
And the water was deep. Then out cried 

the father and said : Look out ! 
Down there is Dame Yulock, my cook, 

floating below in her furs; 



CANTO II. 



41 



Her distaff is here on the bank ; come help 

her, you men ! I will give 
Two barrels of beer as reward, with ample 

indulgence and grace. 
The bear they all left lying there as if 

dead, and hurried away 
To the water the women to save, and drew 

out the five to the land. 
The bear waddled slowly away while the 

men were engaged at the shore, 180 
And into the water he crawled in arrant 

distress, and he roared 
In horrible anguish and pain ; he rather 

would much have been drowned, 
Than blows so disgraceful endure. To swim 

he had never essayed, 
And now in his misery hoped that his life 

he might end on the spot. 
Against expectation he found that he swam, 

* and was luckily borne 
By the water a distance below. Then him 

all the peasants observed, 
And exclaimed : To us this will certainly 

prove an eternal disgrace ! 



42 REYNARD THE FOX. 

They all out of humor became, and began 

at the women to scold : 
' Twere better had they stayed at home ; 

just look now and see how he swims 
Down there on his way. Then close they 

approached to examine the log, 190 
And in it remaining they found the skin 

and the hair from his head, 
And also his feet, and chuckled thereover 

and cried : You will come 
To us surely again ; meanwhile we accept 

your ears as a pledge. 
And thus to his injuries added they jeers, 

yet happy was he 
The evil like this to escape. The peasants 

he roundly reviled, 
Who him had chastised, lamented the pain 

in his ears and his feet, 
And Reynard denounced, who him had 

betrayed. With prayers like these 
He swam further off, urged on by the stream, 

which was rapid and large, 
Within but a short space of time, below 

very nearly a mile, 



CANTO II. 43 

And then on the very same bank, all 
breathless he waded ashore. 200 

No beast in a bitterer plight till then had 
the sun ever seen. • 

The morning he thought that he never 
should see ; he fully believed 

He must instantly die, and cried: Oh, Rey- 
nard, you villainous wretch! 

You dissolute scamp ! He was thinking 
besides of the pummelling boors; 

And also he thought of the tree, and Rey- 
nard's deception he cursed. 



Reynard, however, the fox, when he, with 

precaution so good, 
His uncle to market had led, with honey 

him there to supply, 
Went after some fowls, whose dwelling he 

knew, and pounced upon one, 
Then rapidly ran to the stream, dragging 

his booty along ; 
There he despatched it at once and hastened 

to other affairs, 210 



44 REYNARD THE FOX. 

The river still keeping close by; he drank 

of the water and thought: 
How happy and joyous I feel, at having 

the dull-witted bear 
Thus led to the carpenter's yard ! I'll wager 

that Riisteviel let 
Him have a good taste of his axe. Always 

the bear has displayed 
Malevolent feelings to me ; and now I have 

paid it him back. 
My uncle I've always him dubbed, and now 

in the cleft of a tree 
He lifeless remains; and for that I'll rejoice 

so long as I live. 
No more will he render his damaging 

plaints ! And, roaming along, 
He looked at the river below, and saw the 

bear rolling about ; 
To the core of his heart he was vexed 

that Bruin had living escaped. 220 
He Riisteviel cried, you indolent wight, 

you blundering fool, 
Fat meat such as this you disdain, so tender 

and good to the taste, 



CANTO II. 



45 



Which any sane man might desire, and 

which, with such infinite ease, 
Fell unawares into yoar hands! But still, 

for your welcome so kind 
Has the innocent bear left behind him a 

pledge. Thus were his thoughts 
As he upon Bruin set eyes, downcast, 

bloody, and faint. 
He finally called to the bear: Do I find 

you, sir uncle, again ? 
Have you anything lost in Riisteviel's yard ? 

Tell me and I'll let 
Him know where you make your abode. I 

also should tell him, I think, 
That doubtless you have from the man a 

good lot of honey purloined. 230 
Or have you him honestly paid ? How was 

it that this came about? 
Dear me! Who has painted you so? You 

have a deplorable look. 
Your taste did the honey not suit ? At the 

same identical price 
Can more of it yet be obtained. Now, uncle, 

do tell me at once 



46 REYNARD THE FOX. 

The name of the order to which you have 

lately devoted yourself, 
That you on your head have begun a red- 
colored bonnet to wear! 
Is it true that you now are a monk ? The 

barber assuredly has, 
In trying your tonsure to shave, made a 

very bad snip at your ears; 
I see you are losing your hair and also the 

skin from your cheeks, 
And even your gauntlets as well. Where 

did you leave them to hang ? 240 
And thus the poor bear was compelled, his 

numerous bantering words 
One after the other to hear; while he, in 

his pain, could not speak; 
Was indeed at his very wits' end ; and so 

as not further to hear, 
Back into the water he crept, and swam 

with the swift-flowing tide, 
Lower down, till a shore that was level he 

found; he landed and lay 
Disheartened and sick ; lamented aloud and 

remarked to himself : 



CANTO II. 



47 



Oh, that some one would kill me outright! 

I'm unable to walk, and I ought 
My journey to make to the court of the 

king; yet here I remain, 
So shamefully injured, behind, and all 

through Reynard's vile ' tricks. 
If I only get through with my life, he 

verily shall it repent. 250 
Then got he himself on his feet and, 

racked with unbearable pain, 
Limped on for the space of four days, and 

finally came to the court. 



The king, setting eyes on the bear as in 

his distress he approached, 
Cried : Merciful God ! Is it Bruin I see ? 

How is it he comes 
Maltreated like this ? And Bruin replied : 

Alas, it is sad, 
The evil on which you now look ! Thus me 

has the mischievous knave, 
Reynard, most basely betrayed ! Then spake 

in his anger the king: 



4 8 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



This outrage I certainly will, without any 
mercy, avenge. 

Such a noble as Bruin, in faith, would Rey- 
nard defy and abuse ? 

Indeed, by my honor, my crown, I now 
with solemnity swear 260 

That Reynard all things shall endure that 
Bruin by law can demand. 

If I keep not my word, no sword any more 
will I wear ; that I vow ! 



The king then a mandate sent forth, his 

council together should come, 
Consider at once the affair, and a penalty 

fix for the crime. 
They all recommended thereon, provided the 

king thought it fit, 
That Reynard be summoned anew himself to 

present at the court, 
His rights to defend against charge and 

complaint ; and Tybert the cat 
Forthwith as the herald be sent the order 

to Reynard to take, 



CANTO II. 



49 



Because he is wise and adroit. So coun- 
selled they all in accord. 

His gracious assent gave the king to that 
which the council advised; 270 

And to Tybert he said : Pay attention to all 
that my lords have in view ! 

Should he for a third time have to be 
called, then shall it to him 

And every one of his race for damage 
eternal be held. 

He will, if he's wise, come in time. And 
let your monition have point; 

Others he only contemns ; he listens, how- 
ever, to you. 



Tybert, howaver, replied : Whether to weal 
or to woe 

It tend, when I come where he is, how 

shall I the matter begin? 
For me he may do it or not, but still unto 

me it appears 
That another could better be sent, for I am 

so little and weak. 



50 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Bruin the bear is lusty and strong, yet to 

master him failed, 280 

What chance of success then have I? Oh, 

let me, I pray, be excused! 

Your pleading convinces me not, responded 

the king; one may find 
Many a man that is small full of wisdom 

and craft, which are strange 
To many a one that is big. To a giant you 

may not have grown, 
But still you are learned and wise. Then 

yielded the cat and replied : 
Myself I resign to your will, and if I can 

meet with a sign 
To my right as I go on the road, my 

journey will be a success. 287 



" May God, the indulgent and good, a prosperous eve to you grant." 



CANTO III. 



51 



CANTO THREE 

When Tybert, the cat, had advanced a short 
way along on his road, 

In the distance a ringtail he saw, and soon 
as he spied him he cried : 

God speed you. illustrious bird! Oh, turn 
now your pinions and fly 

Down here at my right hand side ! The 
bird took his flight and disposed 

Himself at the left of the cat, to sing on 
the bough of a tree. 

Now Tybert was greatly distressed, for ill- 
luck it portended he thought, 

But cheered himself up for all that, as many 
are customed to do. 

Still towards Malepartus he went, and arri- 
ving, sir Reynard he found 

Sitting in front of the house, to whom he 
thus paid his respects: 

May God, the indulgent and good, a pros- 
perous eve to you grant; 10 

Our monarch has threatened your life if you 
shall refuse any more 



52 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



With me to proceed to the court; he further 

directs me to say 
That you your accusers must meet, or your 

friends due atonement shall make. 
To this did sir Reynard reply: Dear 

nephew, I welcome you here, 
That you the protection of God may enjoy 

to the full is my wish. 
But different far were the thoughts that 

invaded his treacherous heart; 
New tricks were engaging his mind ; this 

messenger too he would send 
Again to the court in disgrace. This not- 
withstanding, the cat 
His nephew he styled, and he said: My 

nephew, what can I provide 
For you in the matter of food? One always 

sleeps better when filled; 20 
I am for the present your host; we will 

travel tomorrow at dawn 
Together to court; this I think will be well. 

Of my relatives all, 
To me is not anyone known upon whom I 

so fully rely. 



CANTO III. 



53 



The brutal and gluttonous bear with inso- 
lence me did approach ; 

Ill-tempered and strong he is both, and 
therefore I would not for much 

The journey have risked at his side. But 
now. as a matter of course, 

With you I shall cheerfully go. In the 
morning we'll early set out 

On the way, for to me this appears by far 
the best thing we can do. 

Then Tybert responded to this: Far better 
for us it would be 

To depart straight away for the court with- 
out more ado as we are, 30 
For over the forest is shining the moon and 
the roads are all dry. 

To this Reynard said: A journey by night 
I regard as unsafe; 

By day there are many who'll greet us as 
friends and yet, in the dark 

To fall in our way should they chance, it 
might not turn out for the best. 

Now Tybert responded in turn : Just tell 
me, my uncle, I pray, 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



If here I remain, what then shall we eat? 

And Reynard remarked : 
But poor is our store, yet if you remain, 

before you I'll set 
Good honey all fresh in the comb; I'll pick 

out the clearest there is. 
Such stuff I could never endure, ungraciously 

answered the cat, 
If naught in the house can be found, then 

give me, I beg you, a mouse; 40 
Of food this to me is the best, your honey 

for others pray keep. 
Can mice be so toothsome to you? Reynard 

asked, let me honestly know; 
I surely can serve you with them. My 

neighbor, the priest, hath a barn 
Below in his yard, and within it are mice; 

such numbers, indeed, 
That hold them a wagon could not; and 

the priest have I frequently heard 
Complain that, by day and by night, to him 

a worse pest they become. 
The cat then imprudently said: Oh, do me 

the favor, I beg, 



CANTO III. 



55 



Of leading me straight to the mice ! For 

to game and all else of the kind 
The flavor of mice I prefer. And Reynard 

then slyly rejoined : 
In truth you with me shall enjoy a meal 

that is fit for a lord, 50 
And now that I know what for you I can 

get, let us make no delay. 

Tybert trustingly followed the fox and came 

to the barn of the priest, 
To its wall which was made out of clay. 

This Reynard had yesterday dug 
Judiciously through and, by means of the 

hole, from the slumbering priest 
Had stolen the best of his cocks ; and the 

clergyman's dear little son, 
Young Martin, as he had been named, was 

wishing the theft to avenge ; 
For which he in front of the hole had 

fastened a cord with a loop; 
Thus hoping his bird to avenge on the 

thief when again he should come. 



56 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Aware was Reynard of this and with it in 

mind he remarked : 
My nephew, now crawl through the hole, and 

I will keep guard at the front, 60 
Meanwhile look you after the mice, for there 

you will find them in swarms 
And readily catch in the dark. Oh, listen 

how gaily they squeak ! 
When enough you have had, then come 

again back, and join me once more. 
We must not from each other this evening 

depart, for tomorrow, you know, 
We early set out, and will shorten our way 

with frolicsome talk. 
Do you feel assured, said the cat, that here 

it is safe to crawl in? 
For sometimes have parsons been found a 

little unchristlike in mind. 
Here answered that scoundrel, the fox: 

However could that be found out? 
Is it timid you are ? Then let us return ; 

my dear little wife 
Will you with all honor receive, and fur- 
nish a savory meal; 70 



CANTO III. 



57 



If in it no mice can be found still let us 

it joyfully eat. 
But Tybert the cat sprang in through the 

hole, for he felt quite abashed 
By the bantering words of the fox, and 

straight he fell into the snare. 
In this way the guests of sir Reynard a 

bad entertainment received. 



Now Tybert, as soon as he felt the tight- 
ening cord at his throat, 
Made a start apprehensively back, and flurried 

became through alarm. 
Then made a more vigorous jump, and 

tighter the cord was thus drawn. 
To Reynard he plaintively called, who then 

with his ear at the hole 
Was listing with rancorous joy, and thus 

through the opening spake : 
Dear Tybert, how like you the mice? You 

find them, I hope, good and fat; 80 
If only young Martin but knew that you 

were consuming his game 



58 REYNARD THE FOX. 

He mustard had certainly brought, for he is 

a well-mannered boy. 
At court do they sing" so at meals? Suspi- 
cious it sounds to my ears. 
If could I but Isengrim have just now in 

the hole, as I you 
To ruin have managed to bring, he surely 

should pay me for all 
The harm that to me he hath done; and 

Reynard thus went on his way. 
He went not, however, alone to practice his 

thievish designs ; 
Adultery, murder, and treason, and theft, 

to him were no sins, 
And now he had something on hand for 

himself. To the lovely and fair 
Dame Greedimund sought he a visit to pay, 

with a two-fold intent: 90 
He hoped from her first to find out exactly 

what Isengrim charged, 
And second the villain desired his old 

escapades to renew ; 
To court had sir Insengrirn gone, advantage 

of which he would take; 



CANTO III. 



59 



For none had the shade of a doubt that 

the all too apparent regard 
Of his wife for the villainous fox had 

excited the wrath of the wolf. 
Reynard entered his mistress's house, but 

failed to find her at home. 
God bless you, my little stepchildren, he 

said, no more and no less, 
Gave an affable nod to the lads and on to 

his errand he sped. 
At morning Dame Greedimund came, as day 

was beginning to break, 
And she asked : Has nobody been to 

enquire after me? And they said: 100 
Our godfather Reynard is hardly away, and 

you he would see ; 
His little stepchildren he called us all whom 

he found in the house. 
Then shouted Dame Greedimund out: For 

that he shall pay ! And ran off 
This offense to avenge the very same hour. 

She had reason to know 
Where he was accustomed to walk. She 

reached him and fiercely began : 



60 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Pray, what kind of language is this ? What 

sort of outrageous remarks 
Have you, without scruple or shame, in the 

ears of my children pronounced ? 
For this you shall certainly pay. Thus 

fiercely she spake and displayed 
A furious face; laid hold of his beard; and 

then let him feel 
The sharpness and strength of her teeth. 

He tried to run out of her way; no 
She suddenly after him rushed and then 

followed stirring events. 
Not a very long distance away had a castle 

in ruins its place, 
Into which they both hurriedly ran ; now, 

by reason of age and decay, 
In the wall at one side of a tower a crack 

could by fortune be seen. 
Through this Reynard managed to slip, but 

not without having to squeeze, 
For narrow and small was the rift; then, 

bulky and plump as she was, 
The wolf stuck her head in the cleft ; and 

there having gotten she pressed 



CANTO III. 



6l 



And hustled and rooted and shoved, and 

tried to go after the fox, 
But only stuck faster within ; she could 

neither go on nor retreat. 
When Reynard took notice of this, he ran 

to the furthermost side, 120 
By the tortuous path within, and tried her 

once more to molest. 
But she was not wanting for words, she 

rated him well ; you behave, 
She cried, like a knave and a thief; and 

Reynard responded thereto : 
As never has happened before, so may it 

just now come to pass. 



Small credit or honor it brings your wife 

through another to spare, 
As Reynard was doing just now. To the 

scoundrel no matter was this. 
When now, in due process of time, the wolf 

herself freed from the crack, 
Was Reynard already away, having gone 

his own path to pursue. 



62 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



And this made her ladyship think that the 
law she herself would enforce, 

Her honor to guard and preserve, which 
doubly at present was lost. 130 

At Tybert now let us once more take a 

look. The poor forlorn chap, 
As soon as he felt himself caught, bewailed 

in the way of a cat 
His distress. This reached little Martin's 

quick ears, and he sprang out of bed. 
Thank God, he exclaimed, the lasso I have 

at a fortunate time 
Suspended in front of the hole, for the 

robber is caught, and I think 
He will have to pay well for the cock. 

Thus did young Martin rejoice, 
Set light to a candle in haste, (the folks in 

the house were asleep), 
His father and mother he woke and all the 

domestics as well, 
And cried: We have captured the fox, so 

let us upon him now wait. 



CANTO III. 



63 



All came, both the little and big; yea, even 

the parson got up 140 
And wrapped in a mantle himself ; and 

posted ahead of them all 
His cook with a couple of lights, and Martin 

had hurriedly seized 
A good solid cudgel, with which he devoted 

himself to the cat, 
Dealt blows both on body and head, and 

knocked out m fury an eye. 
And into him all of them pitched ; there 

came with a sharp pointed fork 
The priest in great haste to the fray, 

expecting to settle the thief. 
Tybert now thought he should die ; then 

raving with madness he sprang 
Between the bare legs of the priest, and 

savagely bit him and scratched ; 
He terribly injured the man and avenged 

without mercy his eye. 
The priest with a scream made a rush and 

fell in a faint to the ground. 150 
Unadvisedly chattered the cook, that the 

very old devil himself 



6 4 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Had managed the matter to play her a 

trick; and doubly she swore, 
Yea threefold indeed, how joyfully she 

would have lost, if this harm 
Had not to her master been done, her 

entire little bit of effects. 
Yea, swore that the loss of a treasure of 

gold, if one she possessed, 
She certainly would not regret ; she without 

it could very well do. 
Thus bemoaned she her master's disgrace 

and the terrible wounds he'd received. 
At length with full many laments, they laid 

him again on his bed, 
And Tybert they left in the cord where 

him they completely forgot. 



When Tybert, the cat, now himself found all 
alone in his woe, 160 

So grievously beaten and covered with 
wounds, and so near unto death, 

He seized, out of sheer love of life, the 
cord and began it to gnaw. 



CANTO III. 



65 



Is there no way to get myself out of this 
horrible scrape ? So he thought, 

And carried his point; the cord snapped 
in two. How happy he felt 

As he hastened to flee from the place 
where he so much pain had endured. 

He nimbly escaped from the hole and then 
in a trice made his way 

With speed to the court of the king, and 
on the next morning arrived. 

He angrily chided himself : So the devil 
has yet been obliged 

You, through Reynard's deceit, that traitor 
most vile, to subdue. 

You come again back in disgrace, an eye 
having lost from your head, 170 

And bitterly laden with stripes, how com- 
pletely ashamed you must be. 

The wrath of the king waxed heavy and 

hot; with threats he ordained 

That death to the traitor be dealt, without 
any favor or grace ; 



66 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Then ordered his council convoked. His 

nobles and legal adepts 
Arrived in response to his call, and he 

asked how the miscreant should 
Be finally brought to account, who now had 

so guilty been shown. 
As increasing complaints about Reynard 

were constantly being received, 
Thus Grimbart the badger held forth : In 

this court of justice there are, 
No doubt, a great number of lords who of 

Reynard but evil can think, 
But still to a freeman's just rights must 

violence never be done. 180 
A third time he summoned must be ; when 

this has been legally done, 
If he fail his appearance to make, the law 

may him guilty pronounce. 
The monarch responded to this : I fear that 

of all there's not one 
Who would a third summons convey to the 

crafty and treacherous knave ; 
For who has more eyes than he wants ? 

And who is fool-hardy enough 



CANTO III. 



6 7 



To endanger his limbs and his life, on 
account of this mutinous scamp ? 

To put to such hazard his health, and 
nevertheless at the end 

Reynard fail to arrest ? I can think not of 
one who would make the attempt. 



The badger replied very loud : Lord King, 

if it please you to make 
A demand such as this upon me, I at once 

will the errand perform, 190 
Let it be whatsoever it may. Officially will 

you me send, 
Or go I as if of myself ? You have noth- 
ing to do but command. 
The king thus assigned him the task : You 

may go ! All the charges you've heard, 
As they have together been brought; but 

go you with wisdom to work, 
For he is a dangerous man. And Grimbart 

then said in reply : 
This once I will venture the task, and hope 

that I yet shall him bring. 



68 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Thus started he off on the road towards 

Malepartus, the fort. 
Reynard he found in the place with wife 

and with children, and said : 
Uncle Reynard, I wish you good day ! Full 

of learning and wisdom you are, 
And judicious regarded as well ; we are all 

with astonishment filled 200 
That you the behest of the king disregard, 

I may say, even mock. 
To you seems it not that the time has 

arrived ? Received from all sides 
Are constantly growing complaints and evil 

reports. I advise 
That you with me come to the court ; delay 

will no longer avail. 
Already have many complaints been brought 

to the ears of the king, 
And the summons I bring you to-day is 

the third that to you has been sent. 
Surrender you not, condemned you will be ; 

and then will the king 
Hither his vassals conduct, and you will 

besiege, and reduce 



CANTO III. 



69 



Malepartus, this stronghold of yours ; and 

thus will to ruin be brought 
Your wife and your children and goods, and 

life you will certainly lose. 210 
The king you can never elude, so the very 

best thing you can do 
Is to travel with me to the court. Of cun- 
ning devices and turns 
You never will want ; you have them on 

hand yourself to get free. 
For you have assuredly oft, yea, even when 

present in court, 
Adventures encountered far greater than this, 

and always contrived 
To come from them all with eclat, and 

leave your opponents disgraced. 



Thus ended sir Grimbart his speech and 

Reynard responded thereto ; 
Dear uncle, you counsel me well, that I 

put in appearance at court 
In person my rights to defend. I earnestly 

hope that the king 



70 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Will grant me his grace ; he knows of what 

service to him I can be, 220 
And also is fully aware how much I am 

hated for this. 
No court can be held without me. And 

had I yet ten times as much 
Done amiss, still without hesitation I know 

that if I can succeed 
Him to meet to his face and before him to 

plead, he will certainly find 
The ire in his breast overcome. There are 

many, indeed, who attend 
Our monarch day in and day out, and have 

in his council a seat, 
But naught about these does he care ; among 

the whole lot can be found 
Neither reason nor sense. At every session, 

however, of court, 
Wherever it is I may be, the decree to 

my wisdom is left. 
When monarch and nobles convene, in criti- 
cal matters of state 230 
To formulate prudent advice, it is Reynard 

who has it to find. 



CANTO III. 



71 



There are many who envy me this; and, 
alas, I must be on my guard, 

For they've sworn to encompass my death, 
and the wickedest far of them all 

Just now are together at court, which cer- 
tainly gives me concern. 

Over ten can I count, and mighty ones too, 
then how by myself 

Can I such a number withstand ? For this 
have I made such delay. 

I think it, however, now well to accompany 
you to the court, 

My suit at the bar to defend ; this me 
greater honor will bring 

Than through any slackness of mine my 
wife and my offspring to plunge 

Into dangers and griefs without end; we 
every one should be lost, 240 

For the king is too mighty for me, and be 
it whatever it may, 

The same must I do so soon as commanded 
by him ; we can try 

To make with our enemies there some use- 
ful arrangement, perhaps. 



72 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Reynard then said to his wife : Look after 

the children, I beg! 
And more than of even the rest, take care 

of the youngest, Reinhart, 
With his fine set of teeth in his dear little 

mouth ; I hope that he will 
His father's true image become, and here's 

Rossell, the arch little rogue, 
Who is just as endeared to my heart. For 

both of the children I beg, 
Do the best that you can while I'm gone ! 

I will it you amply repay 
Should I luckily come again back, and you 

to my counsel give heed. 250 
With this he departed from thence, attend 

by Grimbart, his friend; 
Left Ermelyn there with both of her sons 

and hurried away ; 
He left ill-provided his house, which made 

very anxious his wife. 

Not yet a short hour on the road had pro- 
ceeded together the two 



CANTO III. 



73 



When Reynard to Grimbart thus spake : 

Dear nephew, most worthy of friends, 
To you I'm compelled to avow that I trem- 
ble all over with fear ; 
I cannot myself get away from the bitter 

and terrible thought 
That verily I am pursuing the road to 

my death. Thus I see 
My sins all before me displayed, all ever 

committed by me. 
You cannot imagine the dread with which 

I now find myself filled. 260 
Pray let me confess, give ear to my words, 

for no other priest 
Can be hereabouts found, and if a clean 

breast I now make of them all, 
No worse on account of the same shall I 

stand in the mind of my king. 
Grimbart then said : First you must robbing 

and stealing give up, 
All scandalous breaches of faith and other 

accustomed deceits, 
Or confession will do you no good. I know 

it, responded the fox, 



74 REYNARD THE FOX. 

So let me begin on the spot, and you with 
attention give ear. 

Confiteor tibi, Pater et Mater, that I on the 
cat, 

The otter, and many besides right numer- 
ous antics have played, 
I confess it and freely submit myself to the 

penance entailed. 270 
Speak English, the badger replied, whereby 

I may know what you mean. 
At this Reynard said : I cannot deny that 

' I certainly have 
Transgressed against all of the beasts at 

present existing on earth ; 
For instance, my uncle the bear, whom I 

caught in the limb of a tree, 
Whose head was all covered with blood, 

and who was so wounded with blows. 
Then Tybert I led after mice, but yet held 

him fast in a cord, 
Very much was he forced to endure and 

met with the loss of an eye. 



CANTO III. 75 

So Henning with reason complained, for 

him of his children I robbed, 
Both little and big as they came, and found 

them quite good to the taste. 
I excepted not even the king, and manifold 

capers and tricks 280 
With boldness I've played upon him, and 

too on his consort, the queen, 
From which she but lately got well. And 

further I'm bound to confess 
That Isengrim have I, the wolf, with 

industry greatly disgraced ; 
But time have I not the whole to relate. 

I always him called 
My uncle, but only in jest, for between us 

no kinship exists. 
Now once on a time, nearly six years ago, 

he came to Elkmar, 
When there in the convent I lived, to see 

me and ask me for help, 
Because he a notion had formed of becoming 

a monk ; he thought 
It might be a profession for him ; so gave 

a good pull at the bell, 



7 6 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



And greatly the ringing enjoyed. Thereon 

his front paws I made fast 290 
In the rope that was tied to the bell. He 

did not demur and, thus fixed, 
He pulled and diverted himself, and seemed 

to be learning the bells ; 
Yet could not, however, the art but a bad 

reputation him bring, 
For as stupid and crazy he rang, till all of 

the people around 
Collected with haste in dismay from every 

alley and street, 
For certain they felt that a grievous disas- 

- ter had come to the town. 
They came and discovered him there, and 

before he could even explain 
His wish to embrace the clerical life, he 

was suddenly caught 
By the surging and furious crowd, and 

almost was beaten to death. 
Yet still did the fool in his purpose persist, 

and even implored 300 
That I with due honor would see that a 

tonsure for him was procured ; 



CANTO III. 



77 



I therefore had cut the hair on his crown 

and so thoroughly singed 
That frizzled with heat was the skin and 

parched as a pea that is baked. 
Thus often for him I prepared hard cuffs, 

severe kicks, and disgrace. 
And I taught him the way to catch fish, 

which never do with him asfree. 
He followed me once to the border of 

France, when jointly we stole 
To the house where a parson abode, the 

richest of all thereabouts. 
This parson a storehouse possessed with a 

number of savory hams , 
Of bacon some long tender sides he kept 

there for curing as well, 
And likewise a tub full of meat but recently 

placed in the brine. 310 
Now Isengrim managed, at length, in the 

wall, which of stone was composed, 
A hole of some measure to scratch, through 

which he might easily go. 
I jogged him along at the work, his avarice 

also him urged ; 



78 REYNARD THE FOX. 

But amid the profusion he found he could 

not restrain his desires, 
But stuffed without measure himself, by 

reason of which did the cleft 
Put a powerful curb on his much swollen 

frame and checked his return. 
* Oh ! how he denounced the perfidious thing, 

that allowed him to pass 
When hungry within, but would not permit 

him when filled to go back ! 
Thereon in the village I raised a hubbub 

and outcry so great 
That soon I excited the folk to look for 

the trail of the wolf; 320 
Then ran to the clergyman's house, and 

came on him having a meal, 
Just as before him was placed a capon, 

young, tender, and cooked 
To a T, so upon it I swooped and carried 

it off in my mouth. 
Up jumped the good priest with a scream, 

and after me tried to pursue, 
And the table knocked over with all that 

was on it to eat and to drink. 



CANTO III. 



79 



Catch and belabor him well ; kick him out, 

cried the furious priest, 
Then cooled off his wrath in a pool that 

lay unobserved in his way, 
Wherein he now floundered full length ; and 

people rushed in crying : Strike ! 
At this I ran off from the place and after 

me all in a crowd 
Who to me the most venomous felt. The 

parson was heard above all: 330 
The bold and audacious thief! he took from 

my table the fowl ! 
Then ran I as fast as I could until I 

arrived at the barn, 
And there, much against my desire, I let 

the bird slip to the earth, 
As I, to my grief, too heavy it found; and 

thus to the crowd 
I was lost, but the fowl was regained, and 

as the priest raised it aloft 
Became he aware of the wolf in the barn, 

and the crowd saw him too. 
The father now called to them all : Come 

quickly and pummel him well ; 



80 REYNARD THE FOX. 

To our hands has a different thief, a wolf, 

been delivered inrtead ; 
Away should he get, disgraced we should be, 

and truly would all 
Be laughing at our expense from the east 

to the west of the land. 340 
The wolf some hard thinking now did ; 

upon him fell blows like the rain, 
On his body in every part, and inflicted 

most torturing wounds. 
All shouted as loud as they could, and the 

men who behind had been left 
In a body together rushed up and felled him 

for dead to the earth. 
He never, so long as he'd lived, had met 

with affliction so great; 
If one should on canvass it paint, it very 

astounding would be 
To notice how he the good priest repaid 

for his bacon and hams. 
They bundled him out on the road and 

seized him and dragged him pellmell 
Through hedges and ditches and mud, till 

in him no life could be traced ; 



CANTO III. 



8 1 



He made himself dirty and foul, and hence, 

with abhorrence and hate, 350 
He out of the village was cast, and left in 

a deep filthy pool, 
They thinking at last he was dead. In such 

ignominious swoon 
I know not how long he remained, ere he 

conscious became of his woe ; 
And how after all he got off, that too have 

I never found out. 
And yet not long since (it may be a year) 

he swore that to me 
Ever faithful and true he would be, but 

this did not last very long. 
Now why he did thus to me swear I was 

able with ease to conceive. 
I came on him once when he wished his 

fill of some fowls to procure ; 
And, so as to play him a trick, I pictured 

with clearness and care 
A beam upon which, as a rule, a cock in 

the evening would roost, 360 
With seven fat hens at his side. I guided 

him then to the place, 



82 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



In stillness and darkness of night, as twelve 
by the clock had been struck; 

The sash of the window, I knew, was raised 
with a thin piece of wood, 

And stood ready open for use, so in I pre- 
tended to go, 

But then I surrendered my place, and my 
uncle I asked to go first, 

And said : Proceed boldly within ; on well- 
fattened hens you will come. 

If you your fair lady would win, you must 
never faint-hearted become. 

Very cautiously crawled he inside and groped 
with the greatest of care 

Hither and thither about, and at length he 
indignantly said : 

Oh, how you have led me astray! Of fowls, 
in good truth, I can find 370 

Not a feather. I said : t The birds that in 
front were accustomed to sit 

Myself I have carried away, the others are 
further behind ; 

Without hesitation go on and mind that 
with caution you step. 



CANTO III. 83 

The beam was undoubtedly small on which 

we so carefully walked, 
Yet I kept him in front and myself well 

behind ; then backwards I made 
My way through the window again, and 

gave a good tug at the wood ; 
Down came the sash with a bang, and the 

wolf made a start of alarm; 
In shaking he fell from the beam and came 

in a heap to the ground. 
Now, affrighted, the people awoke, who all 

were asleep by the fire. 
What fell in the window? they cried, in 

direst confusion and fear; 380 
Without loss of time they arose ; and, speed- 
ily lighting the lamp, 
Him down in the corner they found, and 

struck him and polished his skin 
To the fullest extent of their strength ; it 

surprises me how he escaped. 

Still further to you I confess, that I to 
dame Greedimund oft 



84 REYNARD THE FOX. 

In secret have gone, and openly too. Now 

certainly that 
Ought not to have ever occurred, and I 

wish I had left it undone, 
For, live she as long as she may, her 

shame she will scarcely repair. 

I now have confessed to you all that, 

endeavor as much as I may, 
I am able to bring to my mind, and it 

heavily weighs on my soul. 
Absolve me, I pray you, therefrom, and 

meekly be sure that I will 390 
All penance perform to its end, no matter 

how much you impose. 

Already to Grimbart 'twas known how he 

in such case should proceed; 
He broke off a twig on the way, and said : 

Strike, uncle, yourself 
Three times on the back with this twig, 

and then put it carefully r down, 



CANTO III. 



85 



In the manner I show, on the earth and 
as many times over it jump; 

With meekness then kissing the twig your- 
self fitly dutiful show; 

Such is the penance I lay upon you, and 
pronounce you from all 

Your sins and all chastisements free and dis- 
charged. I fully forgive 

You all in the name of the Lord, whatever 
it be you have done. 



When Reynard the penance enjoined had 

duly performed to the end, 400 
Then Grimbart most solemnly said: My 

uncle, let now in good works 
Be clear your repentance to all; the psalms 

also read and attend 
The churches with zeal, and fast on the 

days appointed by law. 
To him who may ask show clearly the way 

and give to the poor 
Without stint, and unto me swear your 

infamous life to forsake ; 



86 REYNARD THE FOX. 

All plundering, robbing, and theft, seduc- 
tion and treason avoid, 

For certain it is that by this you alone 
will to mercy attain. 

Then Reynard replied : I will do as you 
say, I pledge you my word. 

Thus was the shrift at an end, and then 
they continued their way 

To palace and court of the king; the saint- 
ly Grimbart and he 410 

Then threaded a blackish and fertile ex- 
panse, where a convent they saw 

On' the right hand side of the road, in 
which holy women engaged 

In serving of God from morning to night, 
and kept in their yard 

Of cocks a great number and hens and 
many fine capons as well, 

Who wandered at times for their food a 
distance outside of the wall, 

Where Reynard had called on them oft. 
So now unto Grimbart he said : 



CANTO III. 87 

Our speediest way is to pass along by the 

side of this wall. 
But set were his thoughts on the fowls, 

how they were out taking the air. 
So there his confessor he led, till near to 

the birds they approached; 
Then the scamp to and fro in his head set 

rolling his covetous eyes. 420 
He was pleased above all with a cock, in 

splendid condition and young, 
Which firmly he fixed in his eye, as he 

strutted astern of the rest; 
Behind him he hastily sprang, and the 

feathers a-flying began. 

Indignantly Grimbart reproved the shameful 

relapse of the fox : 
Base nephew, behave you like this, and 

would you already again 
Make a sinful attack on a fowl so soon 

after you have been shrived? 
Such penitence seems to me fine ! And 

Reynard to Grimbart replied : 



88 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Dear uncle, if even in thought I such a 

thing can have done, 
Then pray unto God that he may in mercy 

forgive me the sin. 
I gladly forbear and never will do so again. 

Then they went 430 
Round about by the convent again to their 

road, and thus were obliged 
To cross a diminutive bridge, and Reynard 

behind him cast eyes 
A second time after the fowls; he could not 

himself keep in check; 
Had anyone cut off his head, without any 

question it would 
Have flown in pursuit of the birds, so vehe- 
ment was his desire. 

Grimbart observed this and cried: Where let 

you, my nephew, your eyes 
Again wend their 'way ? Of a truth, an 

odious glutton you are ! 
Said Reynard, much pained, in reply: My 

uncle, you do me a wrong; 



"Had any one cut off his head, without any question it would 
Have flown in pursuit of the birds." 



CANTO III 



89 



Do not so excited become, and disturb not, 

I beg you, my prayers, 
But a paternoster allow me me to say, for 

the souls of the fowls 440 
And geese are in need of the same, as many 

as I from the nuns, 
Those heaven -born women, have filched, by 

use of my prudence and skill. 
Grimbart said not a word, and the fox 

turned his head not away from the fowls 
So long as in sight they remained. They 

managed, however, at length, 
The road they had left to regain and began 

to draw near to the court ; 
And as Reynard the castle observed, in 

which dwelt his master the king, 
He inwardly troubled became, for the charges 

against him were grave. 447 



9<D REYNARD THE FOX. 

CANTO FOUR. 

When rumour got spread at the court that 

Reynard was coming indeed, 
To see him all hurried outside, both noble 

and common alike, 
And few of them friendly disposed; nearly 

all had complaints to prefer. 
But Reynard undoubtedly thought that this 

no significance had ; 
At least so he carried himself, as with 

Grimbart the badger he came, 
This moment with boldness and grace, along 

through the principal street. 
Courageous and calm he advanced, as if, of 

a truth, he had been 
Own son and true heir of the king, and 

free and devoid of all fault; 
Yea! thus before Leo he stepped, and took 

in the palace his place 
Right up in the midst of the lords; he knew 

how to feign unconcern. 10 



CANTO IV. 



91 



Illustrious king and worshipful lord, he began 
to declaim, 

Most noble and mighty you are, foremost in 

merit and rank ; 
I therefore you humbly entreat to hear me 

with justice today. 
Of your majesty's servitors all, not a soul 

more devoted than I 
Has ever been found ; this without hesitation 

I dare to maintain ; 
And many I know at the court, who would 

gladly oppress me for that. 
To me would your friendship be lost, if now, 

my enemies wish, 
The lies they disseminate should, perchance, 

to you credible seem. 
But you, as is lucky for me, investigate 

every complaint. 
As fully accused as accusers you hear ; and, 

though they have told 20 
Many falsehoods behind my back, yet tran- 
quil I rest and reflect 
That well you my loyalty know, which 

brings persecution on me. 



9 2 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Be silent! responded the king, no prattle 

or fawning will help ; 
Your iniquities din in our ears, and punish- 
ment now you awaits. 
Regard have you had . for the peace, that I 

to the beasts have proclaimed 
And sworn to maintain? There stands the 

cock ! His children have you, 
Malicious and treacherous thief, one after 

another destroyed ! 
And for me the depth of your love, you 

wish, I presume, to evince 
When you my authority spurn, and my 

servants so grossly abuse ! 
The health of poor Tybert's destroyed, and 

by slow and distressing degrees 30 
Will the suffering bear get well of the 

wounds inflicted by you. 
But I will you not further reproach, for 

here are accusers enough, 
And acts that are proved to the hilt; you 

hardly this time can escape. 



CANTO IV. 



93 



Am I, most benevolent sire, for this to be 
guilty adjudged? 

Reynard said. Do I incur blame if Bruin, 
with blood-covered crown, 

Came limping again to you back? If he 
took the risk, and presumed 

On Riisteviel's honey to feed, and the half- 
witted peasants against 

Him lifted their hands, yet still is he strong 
and enormous of limb. 

If they blows and abuse on him cast, ere 
into the water he ran, 

He could, as a vigorous man, the onset 
with ease have repelled. 40 

And also, if Tybert the cat, whom I with 
due honor received 

And treated as well as I could, from steal- 
ing could not himself keep, 

But into the house of the priest, although I 
him faithfully warned, 

Went sneaking when night had set it, and 
there made acquaintance with grief, 

Have I retribution deserved because he be- 
haved like a fool? 



94 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Too near to your princely crown, indeed, 

would the consequence lie ! 
With me, to be sure, you can deal in accord 

with your sovereign will, 
And, clear as the case may appear, may 

give what decision you please, 
Whether be it to weal or be it to woe the 

matter may tend. 
If I'm to be roasted or boiled, if I'm to be 

blinded or hanged, 50 
Or beheaded indeed, I am perfectly willing 

that so it be done. 
We are all in the grasp of your power, 

completely are we in your hands; 
For you are majestic and strong, how then 

can the helpless resist? 
If you put me to death, by that, of a 

truth, very little you gain. 
Let happen, however, what may, I loyally 

yield to the law. 

Then Bellyn the ram began to remark: 
The time has arrived 



CANTO IV. 



95 



To advance our complaints. And then with 

his relatives, Tybert the cat 
And Bruin the bear, and a legion of beasts, 

lord Isengrim came ; 
Also Baldwin the ass and Lampen the hare 

presented themselves ; 
And Nidget the puppy appeared, with the 

bulldog Rhyn and the doe, 60 
Named Metke, with Herman the buck ; and 

squirrel and weasel, as well 
As the ermine, were added thereto. Nor 

did either the ox or the horse 
Neglect to be there. Near by could be 

seen the beasts of the chase, 
Among them the stag and the roe ; and 

Bockert the beaver came too, 
With marten and rabbit ' and boar ; together 

they all crowded in ; 
Bartolt the stork and Pica the jay and 

Grusley the crane 
Came flying across with Tibke the duck 

and Alheid the goose ; 
And others besides came hurrying in with 

their troubles and woes. 



9 6 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Henning, the grief-stricken cock, with his 

children, now but a few, 
Made bitter complaint ; and hither there 

came without number the birds, 70 
And a concourse so great of the beasts that 

no one could mention their names. 
All made an attack on the fox, and hoped 

that his many misdeeds 
They now into question might bring, and 

inflicted his punishment see. 
In front of the monarch they pressed, with 

vehement, furious speech; 
Charges on charges they heaped, and narra- 
tives ancient and new 
Introduced. In one single sitting of court 

there never had been 
Brought up to the throne of the king, so 

many complaints to be heard. 
His place Reynard took and proceeded with 

skill his defence to conduct. 
He began his address, and forth from his 

mouth the eloquent words 
Of his justification outflowed, as if they 

were obvious truth. 80 



CANTO IV. 



97 



He was master of what to present and what 

to say nothing about ; 
And his auditors all were amazed, and 

thought he was innocent shown. 
He even had claims of his own to put in, 

and charges to make. 
At length there rose up to their feet some 

genuine, trustworthy men, 
Who posted themselves by the fox, against 

him their evidence gave, 
And all of his wickedness clearly made 

known. That settled the case, 
For then, with unanimous voice, the court 

of the king resolved 
That Reynard the fox was worthy of death ; 

that he should be seized, 
Imprisoned and hanged by the neck, in 

order that he be compelled 
For his infamous crimes to atone with an 

ignominious death. 90 

Just now did Reynard himself consider the 
game as all up. 



98 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Not very much good had been done by his 
cunning harangue. The king 

Pronounced sentence himself : and then was 
the criminal's pitiful end, 

As him they imprisoned and bound, paraded 
in sight of his eyes. 

As Reynard there stood, shackled according 

to sentence and law, 
His foes were bestirring themselves to lead 

him at once to his death; 
But his friends stood about in dismay, quite 

overcome with their grief, 
Grimbart and Martin the ape, with others 

of kin to the fox. 
The sentence with umbrage they heard, and 

all were more filled with regret 
Than expected might be; for Reynard of 

barons was one of the chief: 100 
And there he now stood, of all of his 

honors and offices stripped 
And doomed to a shameful death. How now 

must the scene they surveyed 



CANTO IV. 



99 



His kinsmen have cut to the quick ! In a 

body together they took 
Their leave of the king, and withdrew from 

the court, to the last that was there. 

The monarch, however, it vexed, that so 

many knights should depart 
From him thus. It now could be seen how 

great was the crowd of his kin 
Who had gone, in their great discontent at 

Reynard's impending doom. 
And thus did his majesty speak to one of 

his trustiest friends : 
Undoubtedly Reynard is vile; we must, for 

all that, bear in mind 
That many relations he has, who cannot be 

spared from the court. no 

But Isengrim, Bruin, and Tybert the cat, 

all three of them were 
About the poor captive at work; impatient 

the infamous death, 



IOO REYNARD THE FOX. 

As awarded had been by the king, to 

execute now on their foe ; 
So hurriedly dragged him outside, and the 

gallows beheld from afar. 
And now the tom-cat to the wolf began, in 

his fury, to speak : 
Consider, lord Isengrim, well, how Reynard 

once schemed in all ways, 
And everything did that he could, and suc- 
ceeded, too, in his hate, 
On the gallows your brother to see. How 

joyously marched he along 
With him to the place of his doom ! 

Neglect not to pay him the debt. 
And remember, sir Bruin as well, how 

shamefully you he betrayed, 120 
Below there in Riisteviel's yard, to the 

boorish and furious clowns, 
Male and female alike, and scurvily left 

you to wounds and to blows, 
And the shame thereupon that ensued, 

which now in all regions is known. 
Take care and your efforts unite, for if he 

escape us to-day-, 



CANTO IV. 



IOI 



And freedom contrive to procure, by his 

wit and insidious arts, 
A time for our precious revenge will never 

be granted again ; 
So let us make haste and avenge the 

wrongs he has done to us all. 



Then Isengrim said : What use are your 
words? Go, bring me at once 

A reliable cord ; with that we will soon put 
him out of his pain ! 

Thus spake they ill of the fox and jour- 
neyed along on the road. 130 



In silence heard Reynard their words ; at 

length he, however, began : 
Since me you so bitterly hate, and thirst 

for a deadly revenge, 
I am greatly surprised that you seem not 

to know how to bring it about ! 
Your Tybert is fully informed where a good 

trusty rope may be found, 



102 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



For he did it most carefully test, when into 
the house of the priest 

He thrust himself in after mice, and did 
not with honor return. 

But, Isengrim, you and the bear are mak- 
ing such terrible haste 

Your uncle to bring to his end, of course 
you intend to succeed. 



The monarch arose from his seat, with all 
the noblesse of his court, 

The sentence to see carried out; and also 
was present the queen, 140 

Who with the procession had come, by her 
ladies escorted in state ; 

And behind them a multitude flocked, com- 
posed of the poor and the rich, 

All wishing for Reynard's decease, and hop- 
ing to see it take place. 

Isengrim uttered meanwhile a word to his 
kinsmen and friends, 

Exhorting them all to be sure compactly 
together to hold, 



CANTO IV. IO3 

And keep on the manacled fox a steady and 

vigilant eye ; 
For they were in constant dread of the 

shrewd fellow's getting away. 
The wolf, above all, commanded his wife : 

If you set any store 
On your life, take heed to my words and 

help us the rascal to hold ! 
If he manage to get himself free, we all 

are involved in disgrace. 150 
And further to Bruin he said : Bethink 

how he held you in scorn ! 
With usury now can you pay the whole of 

your debt to him back. 
Tybert is able to climb, and above shall he 

fasten the rope. 
You hold him and give me your help, and 

I will the ladder remove ; 
Then all, in a minute or two, with this 

knave will be brought to an end. 
Said the bear: Put the ladder in place, and 

I will him certainly hold. 



IG4 REYNARD THE FOX. 

See now, Reynard said when they'd done, 

how exceedingly busy you are 
In leading your uncle to death ! I should 

think you would rather him guard 
And protect; and, in his distress, would 

some little pity display; 
I gladly for mercy would beg, but what 

should I profit by that? 160 
Isengrim hates me o'ermueh ; yea, even 

his wife he has told 
To hold me and see to it well that the 

way of escape is cut off. 
Should she but reflect on the past, then 

could she not injure me now; 
But if I am doomed to be slain, I earnestly 

wish that it might 
Be speedily done. My father too came into 

frightful distress, 
But yet at the last it was quick. There 

attended, I know, at his death 
Not quite such a number as here. If 

longer, however, you mean 
Me to keep in suspense, then must it in 

truth redound to your shame. 



CANTO IV. 



105 



Do you hear, said Bruin the bear, how 

boldly the vagabond talks? 
Come on ! String him up out of hand ! 

The time for his end has arrived. 170 

Earnestly now did Reynard reflect : Oh ! 

could I but think, 
At once, of some artifice new, to aid me 

in this urgent need, 
Whereby might the king, in his grace, with 

clemency grant me my life, 
And these, my implacable foes, all three, 

into shame might be thrown ! 
Of all let me think, and then must things 

shift for themselves, for here 
Is in question my neck! Not a moment to 

lose! How shall I escape? 
Evils of all kinds upon me are heaped. 

The king is displeased, 
My friends are all melted away, and matters 

controlled by my foes. 
I have rarely done anything good, and even 

the might of the king, 



106 REYNARD THE FOX. 

As well as his council's advice, have I truly 

but little esteemed. 180 
I am guilty of much that is wrong, and 

yet my ill-luck have I hoped, 
Each time, to avert. Had I but the 

chance to say a few words, 
I surely should then not be hanged; I 

will not abandon the hope. 

His back to the ladder he turned, with face 

to the people below, 
And cried: Before me I see the grim fig- 
ure of death, and can him 
Not escape. And now from you all, as 

many as hear me, I beg 
But a little extension of time, before I 

depart from the earth. 
Indeed I should very much like, to you my 

confession sincere 
To publicly make for the last time on 

earth, and truly disclose 
Whatever of harm I have done, so that to 

another, perchance, 190 



"Indeed, I should very much like, to you my confession sincere, 
To publicly make, for the last time on earth. " 



CANTO V. 



107 



May not, in the future, be laid this crimi- 
nal action or that, 

Till now unsuspected by you, but done 
under cover by me; 

That I may thereby, at the last, much evil 
prevent, and may hope 

That God, in his fullness of grac,. will 
remember me now in my need. 



A number to pity were moved, and one to 

another they said : 
Small is the favor and short the reprieve. 

They petitioned the king, 
And the king conceded their prayer. Then 

again did Reynard become 
A little more lightsome of heart, and hoped 

for a happy result ; 
The granted occasion he turned to account, 

and as follows he spake : 
Spiritus Domini, come to my aid! Not 

one do I see, 200 
In all the vast concourse that's here, whom 

I have not some time ill-used. 



I08 REYNARD THE FOX. 

First, I was yet but a youngster small, and 

the breast of my dam 
Had hardly forgotten to suck, when my 

passions I followed unchecked 
Among the young lambs and the goats 

th?t, a distance apart from the flock, 
At p:/ay were dispersed in the fields; their 

dear bleating voices 1 heard 
Too gladly by far, as a craving I got for 

more delicate food, 
And soon their acquaintance I made. One 

lambkin I slew with my teeth, 
And drank up its blood ; it tasted so good 

that I killed and devoured 
Also four of the youngest goats, and thus 

further training obtained. 
I exempted no kind of a bird, not a fowl, 

nor a duck, nor a goose, 210 
On which I might light, and have in the 

sand full many entombed, 
When all that I harried to death I did 

not desire to consume. 



CANTO IV. 



It afterwards happened one winter to me, 

on the banks of the Rhine, 
That Isengrim came I to know, who was 

lurking aback of the trees. 
He assured me, without losing time, that I 

was a kinsman of his ; 
Indeed on his fingers he could the precise 

degrees of the tie 
Call over to me. I gave my assent, an 

alliance we formed, 
And each to the other engaged as trusty 

companions to roam. 
Ah, many an evil thereby was I doomed 

to prepare for myself! 
Together we went through the land ; while 

he stole the big on our way, 220 
And I stole the small. Whate'er we 

obtained was common to be ; 
But common indeed it was not, he parted 

it just as he chose ; 
A half I have never received. Yea, worse 

have I suffered than this ; 
If he managed a calf to purloin, or get 

for his booty a ram, 



110 REYNARD THE FOX. 

If I found him at table with more than 

enough, or consuming a goat 
Just recently done to its death ; if a buck 

in the grasp of his claws, 
Despite of its struggles, was held, at me 

he would grin and look sour, 
Till growling he drove me away, my share 

to retain for himself. 
It always turned out with me thus, no 

matter the size of the joint 
He had got. Indeed, if to pass it should 

come that, in company, we 230 
Should manage to capture an ox, or our- 
selves possess of a cow, 
At once made appearance his wife and 

seven young cubs on the scene, 
Who then would lay hold of the prey, and 

crowd me away from the meal. 
Not even a rib could I get ; so polished 

and dry were they gnawed, 
That nothing like meat could be found; 

and I must contented appear. 
But heaven, however, be praised, I suffered 

not hunger thereby. 



CANTO IV. 



I I I 



From that splendid treasure of mine I kept 

myself privately fed, 
By means of the silver and gold, that 

securely I keep in a place 
Not easily found. Therein have I all I 

can want; for, in truth, 
No wagon could bear it away, if it seven 

times went to the task. 240 



The king paid attention thereto, as mention 

was made of this wealth, 
Inclined himself forward and asked : From 

whence did it come to your hands ? 
Speak out and at once ! The treasure I 

mean ! And then Reynard said : 
This secret from you I will not conceal, 

what good could it do? 
For naught of these costly things with me 

can I take when I go. 
Since then you are pleased to command, I 

will all to you truly relate; 
For out it assuredly must ; since, whether 

for evil or good, 



I 12 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



A secret so weighty indeed could not be 

much longer concealed ; 
For the treasure was stolen, forsooth. With 

oaths had a number conspired 
To kill you, beneficent king, and if, at the 

very same hour, 250 
The treasure had not with prudence been 

moved, it thus had occurred. 
Take notice of this, gracious lord, for both 

your well-being and life 
On the treasure's security hung; and, alas, 

the purloining thereof 
Made things with my father go hard ; it 

led him, in prime of his life, 
The last dreadful journey to take ; to eter- 
nal perdition, perhaps; 
But, merciful master, for you it all turned 

out for the best. 

Perplexedly listened the queen to all of 

this horrible tale, 
The intricate, furtive design for depriving 

her consort of life, 



CANTO IV. 



113 



The treason, the treasure, and all that he 

had been telling about. 
I caution you, Reynard, she cried, reflect! 

for about to embark 260 
You are on the road to your home ; 

repentant, disburden your soul ; 
Set forth the unvarnished truth and plainly 

the murder make known. 
The king supplemented her words : Strict 

silence let every one keep ! 
Come, Reynard again here below and step 

now up nearer to me, 
Whereby I may hear what you say, for the 

matter concerneth myself. 



Reynard, who saw through it all, took 
courage again, and the rounds 

Of the ladder he quickly ran down, to the 
malcontents' heavy chagrin ; 

And himself, without more ado, by the 
king and his consort he placed, 

Who earnestly tried to find out the mean- 
ing of all he had said. 



114 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



He then set himself to make up some new 
and astonishing lies. 270 

That I the good will of the king and that 
of his consort, he thought, 

Again could secure ; and oh, that my cun- 
ning at once would prevail, 

And render me able my foes, who me are 
conducting to death, 

Themselves to destruction to bring; this me 
from all peril would save. 

For me this would certainly be a blessing 
from out of the skies ; 

But lies without measure, I see, to carry 
my purpose I need. 

Impatiently then did the queen to Reynard 

more questions propound ; 
Let us know, without any mistake, of what 

the whole matter consists. 
The truth let us know, your conscience 

respect, disburden your soul ! 
Reynard responded thereto : I gladly will 

tell to you all. 280 



CANTO IV. 



Death alone is awaiting me now, and noth- 
ing can remedy that. 

Should I, at the end of my life, my soul 
overburden with lies, 

And eternal damnation incur, I should act 
as if out of my mind. 

It is better for me to confess; and if, to 
my sorrow, I must 

My cherished relations and friends arraign 
and put under a cloud, 

How can I help it, alas ! At hand are the 
torments of hell. 



Already the king, as he listened intently to 

what had been said, 
Full heavy at heart had become. He said: 

Are you telling the truth? 
To his majesty Reynard replied, with air 

for the purpose assumed : 
I'm an infamous fellow, I know, yet now 

am I speaking the truth. 290 
What good could I get by telling you lies? 

I should only myself 



Il6 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Everlastingly damn. You know very well, 

for so it's resolved, 
I must die : I am now looking death in the 

face and lie will I not ; 
Neither evil nor sfood to me now can be of 

the slightest avail. 
He shook as he uttered these words, and 

seemed on the verge of a swoon. 

The queen then compassionate spake : I 

pity the anguish he feels ; 
Deign kindly upon him to look. I beg you, 

my lord, and reflect; 
We both may be saved from much harm by 

this revelation of his. 
The sooner the better that we the ground 

of his narrative find ! 
Strict silence enforce upon all, and let him 

straightforwardly speak. 300 
Then issued the king his command, and 

all the assembly was still ; 
But Reynard uplifted his voice : If it please 

you my gracious king, 



CANTO IV. 



117 



Pray listen to what I shall say. Although 

my narration may chance 
Without any notes to be made, yet exact 

you will find it and true ; 
The details you'll learn of the plot, and no 

one intend I to spare. 305 



I I 8 REYNARD THE FOX. 

CANTO FIVE. 

Now notice the cunning displayed, and see 

how the fox went to work 
To hide his offences once more, and harm 

unto others to do. 
Gratuitous lies he devised, yea. even his 

father defamed 
On the further side of the grave ; and the 

badger he grossly traduced, 
His loyallest friend, who had so persistently 

come to his aid. 
There was nothing he scrupled to say, by 

which his narration he thought 
He might plausible make : that on his 

accusers he vengeance might take. 



And this is the way he began : My father 

once had the good luck, 
Not very long since, the wealth of king 

Emmrich, the mighty, to find 10 
In a secret place ; yet to him was the 

hoard of but little avail. 



CANTO V. 



II 9 



He gave himself airs on account of his 

wealth, esteeming no more 
The beasts of his own degree, and his 

comrades of former times 
Too little regarding by far; more notable 

friends he desired. 
Tybert the cat he despatched to the wild 

hunting grounds of Ardennes, 
Bruin the bear to seek out, to whom he 

should fealty swear, 
And summon to Flanders forthwith, in order 

their king to become. 



When Bruin the writing had read, its im- 
port him heartily pleased : 

Untiring and bold he pursued his way on 
to Flanders in haste, 

For with something like this had his mind 
already for long been engaged. 

Arriving he found my father on hand, who 
hailed him with joy, 20 

And at once off to Isengrim sent, and like- 
wise to Grimbart, the sage ; 



120 REYNARD THE FOX. 

The four put together their heads, discussed 

and perfected their plans, 
And not far away was a fifth, namely 

Tybert, the cat. Xear at hand 
Lay a village which Iste is called, and this 

was the actual place, 
A spot between Iste and Ghent. where 

jointly the plot they discussed 
The whole of a long cloudy night, which 

kept their assemblage concealed. 
With God met they not. for my father, 

the devil more rightly to say, 
Them totally had in his power, with his 

damnable treasure of gold. 
They resolved on the death of the king, 

and one to the other they swore 
An alliance eternal and firm, and then did 

the five take their oath 30 
In conjunction on Isengrim's head, that 

unitedly they would select 
Bruin the bear for their king ; and at Aix- 

la-chapelle, on the throne. 
With aid of the golden crown, the realm 

to him firmly secure. 



CANTO V. 



121 



This having been done, if by one of the 

king's relations or friends 
Resistance thereto should be made, my father 

was him to convince 
Or tempt with a bribe; and, failing in that, 

to eject him at once. 
I happened to learn of the scheme, for 

Grimbart one morning himself 
Full merrily drunken had got, and garrulous 

had become. 
Thus went the fool home to his wife and 

gave the whole secret away ; 
Then silence upon her enjoined, thus think- 
ing the matter to mend. 40 
Very soon after this had occurred, my 

wife she encountered, and her 
Must she, by a sacred oath, in the regal 

trinity's name, 
Pledge on her honor and faith that, whether 

come evil or good, 
To no one a word Would she tell; and then 

she made known to her all. 
In like manner too, has my wife as little 

her promise observed, 



122 REYNARD THE FOX. 

For, soon as she found where I was, she 
told to me all she had heard; 

And gave me, moreover, a sign, whereby 
the full truth of the tale 

I with ease recognized; yet through it I've 
only more evil incurred. 

It reminded me well of the frogs, the con- 
tinual croaking of whom 

Ascended, at length, to the ears of our 
Lord in the heavens above. 50 

They, wishing the rule of a king, were 

willing to live in restraint, 
After having their freedom enjoyed in all 

the domains of the earth. 
Their petition was granted by God; he sent 

them as monarch the stork, 
Who steadily hates and maltreats and allows 

them no peace to enjoy. 
As a fiend he himself to them bears ; and 

wailing the fools are to-day, 
But ah, it's too late ! The king has them 

now altogether subdued. 



CANTO V. 



123 



Reynard to all of the crowd spoke at the 

top of his voice : 
All could well hear what he said ; and thus 

he continued his speech : 
Observe ! My fears were excited for all, lest 

so it should turn. 
Your highness, I looked out for you and 

hoped for a better reward. 60 
Of Bruin's intrigues I'm aware, and the 

villainous turn of his mind, 
As also his many misdeeds ; and the worst 

I provided against. 
Should he become king, we all to destruc- 
tion together should go. 
Our king is of noble descent, and mighty 

and gracious he is, 
I privately thought ; a mournful exchange 

indeed it would be, 
A dull, good-for-nothing, unprincipled bear 

to exalt in this way. 
I studied it over for weeks, and tried the 

whole plot to defeat. 



I2 4 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



To me it was clear above all that, if in 

the hands of my sire 
The treasure continued to be, he then could 

large forces collect, 
And surely the game he would win, while 

we of our king should be shorn, 70 
My care was now centered on this : to 

search and discover the spot 
Wherein was . the treasure concealed, and 

stealthily take it away. 
Should my father run off to the field, or 

the crafty old fellow depart 
To the forest, by day or by night, in frost 

or in tropical heat, 
In sunshine or rain, I was always behind 

and tracking his steps. 

Once as I lay in the earth hidden with 

care and with thoughts 
Of how I the treasure could find, so much 

about which I had learned, 
Then and there I my father espied, as out 

of a cranny he stole ; 



CANTO V. 



125 



Among the stones he advanced, and up 
from below he emerged. 

In silence I kept myself hid ; he thought 
he was all by himself, 80 

Scanned the whole field of his view and 
then, as he no one perceived, 

In the distance or near, his game he began, 
and you shall it learn. 

Again he put sand in the hole, and skill- 
fully made it agree 

In level and looks with the rest of the 
ground. No one, who had not 

Seen it done, could possibly know it was 
there. And step after step 

As he went, he saw that the spot upon 
which he had planted his feet 

Should over and over again be thoroughly 
brushed with his tail ; 

And then did away with his trail by rak- 
ing about with his mouth. 

In this my first lesson I took from my wily 
old father that day, 

Who versatile was in dodges and tricks and 
pranks of all kinds. 90 



126 REYNARD THE FOX. 

This having been done, he hurried away to 

his task, and I thought 
The princely treasure, perhaps, may be in 

neighborhood kept. 
I quickly stepped up to the place, and 

promptly proceeded to work ; 
And the rift, in a very short time, I man- 
aged to pierce with my paws. 
Then crept I impatiently in, and heaps of 

things priceless I found, 
Of the finest of silver a store and gold 

that was red ; of a truth 
Has never the oldest one here his eyes 

such a hoard laid upon. 
Myself I now set to my task with the aid 

of my wife : we dragged 
And we carried by day and by night : we 

had neither barrow nor cart ; 
Much labor it therefore entailed and many 

an hour of fatigue. 100 
Faithfully held dame Ermelyn out, and we 

managed at length 
To get all the jewels in safety away and 

conveyed to a place 



CANTO V. 



127 



That to us more suitable seemed. Mean- 
while kept my father himself 

Daily in contact with those who our king 
were in league to betray. 

Now what they resolved you shall hear and 
greatly amazed you will be. 



Straight Bruin and Isengrim sent to many 

departments and lands 
Patents the hirelings to call, who were 

ordered in numbers to come 
And promptly themselves to report ; then 

Bruin their posts would assign, 
And even indulgently give the fellows their 

pay in advance. 
My father then traversed the lands display- 
ing the letters he had, 110 
Sure of his treasure that still, he thought, 

in its hiding-place lay. 
But now it had so come about that, if he, 

with all of his friends, 
Had ever so thoroughly searched, they 

would not a penny have found. 



128 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



For him was no labor too great, and nim- 
bly his way he pursued 

Through every land to be found between 
the Elbe and the Rhine. 

Many hirelings he'd already found, and 
many another he gained, 

For money was able to lend an emphasis 
strong to his words. 

At length did the summer arrive, and now 

did my father return 
To his fellow-conspirators back. Then had 

he of sorrows and want 
And terrible woes to relate, especially how 

he almost 120 
His life down in Saxony lost, as among the 

castles he roamed, 
Where huntsmen with horses and hounds 

him daily pursued, insomuch 
That barely made he his escape, and then 

with his pelt scarcely whole. 

Arriving, he joyfully showed the four arch- 
traitors the list 



CANTO V. 129 

Of the comrades that he had secured by 

means of his pledges and gold. 
Bruin rejoiced at the news, as the five in 

conjunction it read. 
Its import was this : Twelve hundred of 

Isengrim's relatives bold, 
With ravenous mouths and sharp-set teeth 

in their heads were to come, 
And the cats and the bears besides were all 

for sir Bruin assured. 
The gluttons and badgers as well, Thurin- 

gian and Saxon, would come; 130 
Collected, however, they were on this under- 
standing alone, 
That pay for a month in advance should 

be had. Then all in return 
Forward would come in their might as soon 

as command was received. 
God be eternally thanked that I on their 

schemes shut the door. 

Now, after my father had seen to all that 
demanded his care, 



130 REYNARD THE FOX. 

He hurried away to the fields, to look on 

the treasure once more; 
Then first his affliction began, he burrowed 

and sought and explored, 
Yet the longer he scraped the less he could 

find. Of no earthly use 
Was the trouble he took on himself and 

his inconsolable grief, 
For the treasure was now far away, 'twas 

nowhere at all to be found. 140 
And then, out of anger and shame — how 

horribly plagues me the thought, 
By day as well as by night — my father 

himself went and hanged. 

All this was accomplished by me, the 

infamous deed to prevent ; 
And now me but evil it brings, yet I do 

not repent what I did. 
But the covetous Bruin and Isengrim have, 

by the side of the king, 
Their seats in his council assigned. And 

Reynard, poor fellow, how thou 



CANTO V. 



Art thanked in the opposite way for hav- 
ing, the king to preserve, 

Thine own loving father destroyed! Where 
else is there one to be found, 

Who ruin would bring on himself, just 
merely your life to prolong? 

Meanwhile had the king and the queen 
their hands on the treasure to get 150 

The greatest cupidity felt ; aside they with- 
drew and the fox 

Invited to them, in private to talk, and 
hastily said : 

Speak! Where have you this wealth? That 
is the thing we would know. 

Reynard then said in reply : To me of what 
use would it be, 

To show the magnificent goods to the king, 
who me has condemned ? 

Too much he confides in my foes, the 
vicious assassins and thieves, 

Who cumber him down with their lies, in 
order my life to obtain. 



132 REYNARD THE FOX. 

No, no ! interjected the queen, thus shall it 

not come to pass ! 
My lord will accord you your life, and all 

that is past will forgive ; 
He will harbor his anger no more. In 

future, however, you must 160 
More prudence display, and loyal and true 

remain to the king. 

Reynard said : My lady and queen, if you 

with the king can prevail, 
His troth in your presence to give that he 

will me pardon once more, 
That he all my crimes and misdeeds, and 

all the resentment that I 
In him have unhappily roused, will forever 

efface from his mind, 
You then may rest fully assured no king of 

our time shall possess 
Such vastness of wealth as shall he, through 

my fidelity, gain. 
The treasure is great; when I show you 

the place, surprised you will be. 



CANTO V. 



133 



Confide in him not, said the king, it is 

only when he of his thefts, 
His lies, and his robberies tells, that one 

can him thoroughly trust; 170 
For a greater liar than he has certainly 

never drawn breath. 

To this said the queen in reply : It is true 

that his life hitheito 
Hath little of confidence earned; at present, 

however, reflect 
That his uncle, the badger himself, and his 

own loving father as well, 
This time he has called to account, and 

made their iniquities known, 
If so he desired he could let them alone, 

and of different beasts 
These stories of his could relate : he would 

not so stupidly lie. 

Is that your idea? responded the king; if 
you think it may turn 



134 REYNARD THE FOX. 

In reality out for the best, so that evil 

still greater may not 
Therefrom be derived, I will do as you 

say, and these criminal acts 180 
Of Reynard will take on myself, with all 

his nefarious deeds. 
I will trust him this once, but never again, 

let him bear that in mind ! 
To him on my crown I will swear an 

inflexible oath, that, if he, 
In future, shall lie or transgress, he shall 

it forever repent, 
And that all who to him are of kin, be it 

only the tenth degree, 
Shall atone it whoever they are, and none 

from my wrath shall escape; 
With evil and shame shall they meet and 

ruthless pursuit of the law. 

When finally Reynard beheld how quickly 

the mind of the king 
Was changing, he mustered up courage and 

said: Would I like a fool 



CANTO V. 



135 



Myself, gracious monarch, conduct and 

stories presume to relate, 190 

Whose truthfulness cannot be shown in very- 
few days, at the most ? 

The king then believed what he said and 

pardon he granted for all ; 
His father's high treason the first, and then 

Reynard's own evil deeds ; 
And the latter was now overwhelmingly 

pleased. At an opportune time 
Was he from the might of his foes and 

his own wretched destiny freed. 
Most noble of monarchs and lords, Reynard 

began then to say, 
May God, in his mercy, reward both you 

and your consort for all 
That you unto me the unworthy, have 

done ; I will keep it in mind 
And, long as eternity lasts, will my grati- 
tude constantly show. 
In all the dominions and states of the earth 

there assuredly lives 200 



136 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Not a person now under the sun, to whom 

this magnificent wealth 
I would rather transfer than just to you 

two. What is there of grace 
That I, at your hands, have not had? For 

that will I willingly give 
King Emmerich's treasure to you, exactly 

as he it possessed. 
I now will explain where it is, and truth 

I will honestly speak. 

Attend ! To the eastward of Flanders a 

desert exists, and in that 
Lies a thicket alone, which is Hiisterlo 

called, take note of the name ! 
Beyond is a spring that is Krekelborn 

named ; now bear you in mind 
That not far apart are the two. Within 

this vicinity comes 
Not a woman or man, from beginning to 

end of the year. Here abides 210 
Nought but the bat and the owl, and here 

I the treasure concealed. 



CANTO V. 



137 



As Krekelborn known is the place, this 

note and make use of the sign. 
With only your consort proceed to the 

place, for there certainly is 
Not a soul that's sufficiently safe to send as 

a messenger there, 
And very great harm would result; I could 

not it dare to advise. 
Alone you must go to the spot. When 

Krekelborn you shall have passed, 
You two little birches will see; and one, 

now attend, will be found 
Not very far off from the brook; thus, gra- 
cious king, you will go 
Unhindered and straight to the trees ; 

beneath them the treasures lie hid. 
You need only burrow and scrape ; first 

moss you will find at the roots, 220 
And then you'll discover at once the richest 

and costliest gems, 
In gold most artistic and fine, and also 

king Emmerich's crown. 
If Bruin had had his desire, then he would 

be wearing it now. 



138 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Decorations in number you'll find and jewels 

of brilliance and worth, 
And trinkets of gold, which now are not 

made, for who could them buy? 
This wealth when you see, gracious king, 

as there all together it lies, 
Of one thing indeed I am sure, in thought 

you will honor me then. 
Reynard, you honest old fox, you will 

think, who so prudently hid 
These treasures up under the moss, pros- 
perity always be thine, 
In what place soever thou art ! Thus did 

the hypocrite speak. 230 

To this said the king in reply : You must 
me attend when I go, 

For how, if alone, shall I light on the 
spot? Of Aix-la-Chapelle, 

Without any doubt, I have heard, and Lon- 
don and Paris as well, 

And Cologne; but Husterlo's name I never 
once heard in my life, 



CANTO V. 



139 



And of Krekelborn too may the same be 
observed; must then I not fear 

That lies you are telling- again and coining 
these names in your head? 

Unhappy was Reynard to hear the circum- 
spect words of the king, 

And he said : Where I you direct is not 
so far off as if you 

Were told at the Jordan to seek. Why 
look at me still with distrust ? 

To what I have said I adhere, that all can 
in Flanders be found. 240 

Let us ask some of these ; another, per- 
haps, may endorse what I say. 

Krekelborn ! Hiisterlo ! Thus did I say, 
and these are their names. 

And then he called out to the hare, but 
Lampen in terror held back. 

Then Reynard exclaimed: Come, don't be 
afraid ! The king only asks 

That you, by the oath of allegiance you 
recently took, will tell 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Him nought but the truth ; so out with it 

now, provided you know, 
And say, where does Hiisterlo stand and 

Krekelborn too? Let us hear. 

Lampen said: That can I easily tell. In 

the desert they stand, 
The one from the other not far. The 

inhabitants Hiisterlo call 
That thicket where bandy-legg'd Simonet 

long continued to dwell, 250 
Counterfeit money to make, with his daring 

companions in crime. 
Greatly at that very spot I suffered from 

hunger and cold, 
When I from the bull-dog Rhyn in direst 

distress had to fly. 
At this Reynard said to the hare : To the 

others again you may go, 
Among them resuming your place ; enough 

to the king you have told. 
The king then to Reynard remarked: Be 

not discontented with me, 



CANTO V. 



141 



Because I impatient have been and harbored 

a doubt of your word ; 
But see to it now, without fail, that me 

you conduct to the place. 

Reynard spake : How happy myself I should 

prize, w r ere it fitting to-day 
For me to go forth with the king, and 

him into Flanders attend; 260 
But for you it w r ould count as a sin. In 

spite of the shame that I feel, 
Yet out it must come, though gladly I'd 

keep it still longer concealed. 
Our Isengrim, some time ago, himself got 

ordained as a monk, 
Not at all that the Lord he might serve, 

his belly's the god he obeys ; 
The convent he almost consumed ; at eating 

he's reckoned as six, 
So all was for him not enough ; he whined 

about hunger and grief. 
It moved me to pity at last, when I saw 

him so thin and unwell, 



142 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And I faithfully give him my help, for 

he's a near kinsman of mine. 
But I, for the aid that I gave, the ban of 

the Pope have incurred, 
And now, without any delay, I would, with 

your knowledge and leave, 270 
Commune all alone with my soul and 

tomorrow, at rise of the sun, 
For grace and .indulgence to sue, would 

start as a pilgrim to Rome, 
And thence I would over the sea; and thus 

1 bring about that can my sins 
Be from me all taken away ; and should I 

come back to my home, 
I with honor may go at your side ; if I did 

so, however, to-day, 
The world would be sure to remark : How 

is it our monarch again 
With Reynard is seen, whom not long ago 

to death he condemned, 
And who, in addition to that, is under the 

ban of the Pope ! 
My lord, you will certainly see, 'twere bet- 
ter to leave it undone. 



CANTO V. 



143 



Responded the king: Very true, to me that 
of course was unknown. 280 

If you are proscribed by the church, to 
take you would be a disgrace. 

Either Lampen or somebody else can accom- 
pany me to the spring. 

But, Reynard, that you from the ban are 
trying to get your release, 

I look on as useful and good, and gra- 
ciously give you my leave 

Tomorrow betimes to set out ; I will not 
your pilgrimage stay. 

For seems it to me that you wish from 
evil to good to return. 

May God your intention approve and let 
you the journey complete! 287 



144 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



CANTO SIX 

In this way was Reynard again to favor 
received by the king. 

And now stepped his majesty out to some 
rising ground that was near, 

And, speaking up there on a stone, he bade 
the assemblage of beasts 

Keep silence and down in the grass, accord- 
ing to birth and degree, 

To settle themselves ; and Reynard stood up 
by the side of the queen. 



The king, overlooking the crowd, began 

with much caution to speak: 
Be silent and harken to me, ye birds and 

ye beasts who are here, 
Alike both the rich and the poor; yea, 

hearken, ye great and ye small. 
My lords and acquaintances all, of household 

as well as of court, 
Reynard is here in my power; you were 

thinking, a short time ago, 10 



CANTO VI. 



145 



He ought to be hanged, but now such a 

number of secrets at court 
He's revealed, that him I believe, and 

advisably mercy to him 
Again I vouchsafe. In addition to this has 

my consort, the queen, 
With earnestness pleaded for him, and I in 

his favor am moved, 
Forgiveness have fully bestowed, and on him 

his goods and his life 
Have freely conferred; henceforward my 

peace him shields and protects. 
Now all who together are here, are ordered, 

so long as you live, 
-That Reynard, his children and wife, you 

honor shall everywhere show, 
Wherever, by day or by night, you chance 

them in future to meet; 
Moreover, of Reynard's affairs no further 

complaint will I hear. 20 
If he any evil has done, that belongs to 

the past ; and his ways 
He will mend, as indeed he's begun, for 

early tomorrow he takes 



146 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



His staff and his knapsack to go as a 
reverent pilgrim to Rome, 

And thence will he over the sea; and never 
again will come back 

Until he remission complete of all his mis- 
deeds has . obtained. 

Now Tybert, with rage, upon this to Bruin 
and Isengrim turned ; 

Our trouble and pains are now lost, he ex- 
claimed. I would that were I 

Far from here ! * If Reynard has been once 
again into favor received, 

All arts that he knows he will use to bring 
us all three to an end. 

Already one eye have I lost, and now for 
the other I fear! 30 

Good counsel is dear, responded the bear, 

that is plain to be seen. 
Then Isengrim said in return : The thing 

is so queer that it's best 



CANTO VI. 



147 



To go straight away to the king. With 

Bruin he sullenly walked 
At once to the king and the queen ; and 

Reynard severely denounced, 
With pungency speaking and loud. The 

king interrupted them thus : 
You surely could hear what I said? I've 

him newly to favor received. 
The king uttered this in a rage, and had 

in a twinkling the two 
Captured, imprisoned, and bound ; for well 

he remembered the words 
That he from Reynard had heard concerning 

their traitorous acts. 

Thus in the space of an hour had matters 

with Reynard become 40 
Most thoroughly changed. Himself he'd 

got free, and into disgrace 
His accusers had come ; he even knew how, 

in his spite, to procure 
That off from the back of the bear a piece 

of his hide should he cut, 



148 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



A foot in its length and its width, that a 

wallet for him on the road 
Provided might be; so seemed as a pilgrim 

but little to want; 
But still he entreated the queen to furnish 

him also with shoes, 
And said : Gracious lady, you own that I 

am your pilgrim just now, 
Then give me your help, I implore, that I 

may my journey complete. 
Now four useful shoes has the wolf, it 

surely were nothing but just 
That he with a pair should dispense, for 

me on my journey to wear; 50 
These get, gracious lady, for me, by means 

of his lordship, the king. 
Dame Greedimund also could spare a couple 

of hers for my use, 
For she, as a housewife, is forced to live 

almost wholly in-doors. 

This claim was regarded as just by the 
queen. They assuredly can 



CANTO VI. 



149 



Each of them part with a pair, she gra- 
ciously said in reply. 
Reynard was thankful for this, and said 

with a rapturous bow : 
If four solid shoes I acquire, I will surely 

no longer delay. 
All the good that I presently may, as a 

pilgrim, be able to do, 
You surely shall equally share, both you and 

our merciful king. 
On a pilgrimage we are compelled to make 

supplication for all 60 
Who us have in any way helped. May 

God then your goodness reward ! 

Thus did sir Isengrim have from his two 

front paws to resign, 
Far up as his ankles, his shoes ; and then 

a like fate must his wife, 
Dame Greedimund, also endure, for she 

had her hind ones to lose. 

In this manner both had to lose the skin 
and the claws of their feet, 



150 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And together with Bruin they lay, mourn- 
fully waiting for death ; 
But the hypocrite, having obtained the wallet 

and shoes as desired, 
Went hither and flaunted his jeers; at 

Greedimund worse than the rest. 
My love, my own darling, he said, just 

give but a glance and observe 
How splendidly fit me your shoes, I hope 

that they also will wear. 70 
Great effort already you've made, my ruin, 

perchance, to achieve, 
But I too have exerted myself, and my 

labor has met with success. 
If you your enjoyment have had, so my 

turn at length it is now ; 
But this is the uniform rule, and one must 

learn how to submit. 
As now I proceed on my road, my cherished 

relations I can 
Remember with thank^. You me have a 

present of shoes kindly made, 
A deed you shall never regret ; whatever 

indulgence I gain 



CANTO VI. 151 

You surely shall share when I fetch it from 
Rome and over the sea. 

Dame Greedimund lay in such pain, that 
scarcely the strength she retained 

To utter a word, yet roused herself up and 
said with a groan : 80 

In order to punish our sins, God allows all 
with you to succeed. 

Still Isengrim said not a word, but to- 
gether with Bruin lay still ; 

They both were unhappy enough, in bondage 
and covered with wounds, 

And now set at nought by their foe. Tybert, 
the cat, was not there, 

And Reynard was anxious enough to put 
him in hot water as well. 

The hypocrite busied himself, at morn of 

the following day, 
In rubbing with tallow and oil the shoes 

that his kinsmen had lost; 



152 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And now, making haste to present himself 

to the king, he observed ; 
Your dutiful servant's prepared on his sacred 

mission to start ; 
Pray now of your mercy command the priest 

of your majesty's court, 90 
A blessing on me to bestow, that I ' full of 

hope may depart ; 
And thus approbation divine on my going 

and coming secure. 
The ram by the monarch had been his 

imperial chaplain ordained, 
He also had charge of religious affairs, he 

too by the king 
Was used as a scribe, and Belly n was named. 

Then had he him called 
And said : I desire that at once a few holy 

words shall be read 
Over Reynard awaiting you here, him now 

on the journey to bless, 
That he has in view; he is going to Rome 

and the water will cross; 
The wallet upon him suspend, and give 

him the staff in his hand. 



CANTO VI. 



153 



And thereupon Bellyn replied: You have, 
my lord king, I presume, 100 

Discovered that Reynard, as yet, has not 
been released from the ban ; 

Should only I do as you wish, I should 
wrath from my bishop incur, 

Who about it would easily learn, and me to 
chastise has the power. 

To Reynard indeed will I do not a thing, 
either evil or good ; 

If settled the matter could be, and certainly 
would not thereto 

The Bishop, lord Lackland, object ; or pos- 
sibly angry thereat, 

The provost, sir Wanton, become, or indeed 
Rapiamus the dean, 

My blessing I gladly would give, as now I 
am ordered by you. 

And thus responded the king: What mean 

these evasions and shifts? 
Many words you compel us to hear, but 

back is there little enough. 1 10 



154 REYNARD THE FOX. 

If you over Reynard will read not a thing, 

either evil or good, 
The devil I'll ask it to do. What's church 

or the bishop to me? 
Reynard would journey to Rome ! Of that 

would you stand in the way ? 
With anxiety Bellyn began to scratch at the 

back of his ears; 
He feared the ill-will of his king, and over 

the pilgrim at once 
To read from the book he began, but Rey- 
nard did little attend. 
Yet all it could give was received : of that 

not a doubt can exist. 

And now was the benison read, delivered 
the wallet and staff, 

And thus for his counterfeit trip the pil- 
grim was fully equipped. 

Sham tears were now running down the 
cheeks of the rascally scamp 120 

And wetting his beard, as if he were feel- 
ing the deepest regret. 



CANTO VI. 



155 



And truly it did give him pain, that all of 

his foes he had not 
Together brought evil upon, but only these 

three had disgraced. 
Yet there stood he up and implored that 

earnestly all of them would, 
As well as they could, for him pray. And 

now preparation he made 
To hurry away, for he felt himself guilty 

and hence was in fear. 
Reynard, demanded the king, why are you 

making such haste ? 
Who begins what is good should never 

delay, said Reynard to this ; 
A furlough I beg of you now, for the 

right and appropriate time 
Has come, if your majesty please, so let 

me the journey begin. 130 
The furlough is yours, responded the king ; 

he also enjoined 
In a body the lords of the court with the 

spurious pilgrim to go, 
And wait on a stretch of the way. In the 

meantime in prison remained 



i 5 6 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Poor Bruin and Isengrim both, lamenting 
their pain and disgrace. 

In this way had Reynard again of the love 

and esteem of the king 
Come into possession complete; he went in 

great honor from court, 
And seemed, with his wallet and staff, to 

be off to the tomb of our Lord ; 
Having there just as little to do as a may- 
pole in Aix-la-chapelle. 
But otherwise far was his aim. He had 

made a successful attempt, 
With a flaxen beard and a waxen nose, what- 
% ever by that may be meant, 140 
His monarch completely to hoax ; and all 

his accusers were forced 
To follow him now as he went, and him 

with respect to attend. 
But he could not relinquish his tricks, and 

said, upon taking his leave : 
My lord, be you well on your guard, that 

now the two renegades there 



V 



CANTO VI. 



157 



Do not have a chance to escape, but keep 

them in prison well bound; 
Desist they would not, if at large, from 

shameful and treacherous deeds. 
Pray do not forget, noble king, that your 

life would in jeopardy be. 



So went he along on his road, with coun- 
tenance calm and devout, 

With guise unaffected and grave, as if any 
other were strange. 

At this did the monarch again himself to 
his palace betake, 150 

And followed him all of the beasts. Obey- 
ing the order he gave, 

They Reynard attended no more than a 
very short distance away. 

And carry himself did the scamp in a 
manner so joyless and sad, 

That many a good-natured man to pity had 
found himself moved ; 

And Lampen the hare was especially grieved. 
Are we now compelled, 



158 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Dear Lampen, the villain remarked, to bid 

to each other adieu? 
I would that your pleasure it were, you and 

dear Bellyn the ram, 
To travel with me on my road a little bit 

further to-day ! 
By doing so you would confer the greatest 

of favors on me, 
For pleasant companions you are, and good 

honest people withal; 160 
Of you only good is e'er said, and honor 

to me would it bring. 
You are saintly and moral of life, and live 

just precisely the same 
As I, when a hermit, did live; content are 

you ever with herbs, 
Are wonted with grasses and leaves your 

hunger to still, and you ask 
Not either for bread or for meat, or other 

things special to eat. 
Thus w r as he able with praise the two little 

weaklings to fool ; 
And both went together with him, till up 

to his dwelling they came 



CANTO VI. 



159 



And saw Malepartus the fort, and Reynard 

remarked to the ram : 
You, Bellyn, outside here remain ; the herbs 

and the grasses you can 
Here relish as much as you please ; these 

mountainous regions produce 170 
Vegetation abundant and rare, wholesome 

and good to the taste. 
Within I'll take Lampen with me; now 

beg him, I pray, to console 
My wife, who in sadness is plunged, and 

who, upon coming to find 
That I, as a pilgrim, am going to Rome, 

will be in despair. 
Sweet words brought the fox into use, in 

order the two to deceive. 
Lampen then led he within, and found his 

disconsolate wife 
There lying with both of her cubs, with 

grief in excess overcome. 
For hope she had quite given up that Rey- 
nard would ever again 
Return from the court, and now she him 

saw with wallet and staff, 



l60 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Which almost miraculous seemed. She said 
to him: Reinhart, my dear, 180 
Pray tell me, how fared it with you, and 

what have you had to go through? 
And he said: I guilty was found, and 

even imprisoned and bound, 
But merciful turned out the king, and again, 

after all, set me free; 
And I, as a pilgrim, came off, leaving 

behind as my bail 
Bruin and Isengrim both. Thereafter the 

king, of his grace, 
For atonement, gave Lampen to me ; to do 

with him just as we will. 
For thus said the king at the last, in the 

justice of his decree : 
Lampen it was who made the complaint; 

thus truly has he 
Infinite punishment earned, and now shall 

he answer for all. 
Lampen was struck with dismay at the 
menacing words of the fox, 190 
And, puzzled, himself tried to save by hur- 
rying out of the house. 



CANTO VI. 



161 



Reynard blocked up his way to the door, 

and quickly the murderer seized 
The poor wretched thing by the throat, who, 

loud and with horror, for help 
Cried : help me, O Bellyn, or I am undone ! 

The pilgrim, indeed, 
Is murdering me ! His cry was, however, 

not long ; for his throat 
Had Reynard apace bitten through. And 

thus he entreated his guest. 
Come now, he exclaimed, and let us eat 

fast, for fat is the hare, 
And good to the taste. At present, indeed, 

for the very first time, 
Is he of some use, silly fool ! I promised 

him this long ago. 
But now it is past, and now may the traitor 

his charges produce. 200 
Then Reynard at once set to work with his 

children and wife, and they tore, 
Full quickly, the skin from the hare, and an 

excellent dinner enjoyed. 
To the vixen delicious it was, and again 

and again she exclaimed : 



162 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Thanks to the king and the queen, by 
whose condescension we have 

Obtained this magnificent feast. May God 
them reward for the deed! 

Keep eating, said Reynard to her, enough 
for the present is that; 

Today let us all have our fill; much more 
I'm expecting to get, 

For all, at the last, shall be forced to fully 
adjust their accounts, 

Who Reynard presume to accost, with inten- 
tion of doing him harm. 



Dame Ermelyn said upon this : How was it 

you came, I would ask, 210 
To get yourself out of their hands? Thereto 

he replied : Many hours 
I should need, were I to relate with how 

much adroitness the king 
I twisted about as I would, and him and 

his consort befooled. 
I will not between us deny that slender 

indeed is the love 



CANTO VI. 



163 



That exists between me and the king, and 

not very long to endure. 
When he the whole truth ascertains, he 

fiercely indignant will be; 
If he get me again in his power, nor silver 

nor gold will avail 
Me to save ; he certainly will me pursue 

and try to arrest. 
I then can no mercy expect, that know I 

as well as can be ; 
Unhanged will he not let me go, so let us 

get out of his way. 220 

Let us flee to the Swabian hills, there is 

nobody knowing us there ; 
We'll walk in the ways of the land, and 

find, if but God give us help, 
A plenty of savory food and abundance of 

all that is good. 
Chickens and geese, and rabbits and hares, 

and sugar and dates, 
And figs and raisins and birds of every 

species and size ; 



164 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And there all the bread that is used is 

seasoned with butter and eggs. 
The water is limpid and pure, the air is 

delightful and clear ; 
Of fish can a plenty be caught, entitled 

Galline, while some, 
Pullus and Gallus and Anas are called ; 

who can them all name? 
These fish I enjoy very much; and even 

to catch them one need 230 
Very deep in the water not plunge ; I 

always them greatly enjoy. 
When there I would pass for a monk. 

Yes, dear little wife, if we wish 
At last to be free, we must hence, for 

you must accompany me. 

Now understand well what I say! The 

king has permitted me now 
To go free because of my lies concerning 

mysterious things. 
King Emmerich's glorious hoard I promised 

for him to procure, 



CANTO VI. 



I6 5 



And said that it over at Krekelborn lay; 

if thither they go 
To seek it, alas, they will find both one 

and the other not there ! 
In vain will they dig in the earth ; and 

lo ! when our monarch shall find 
Himself in this manner beguiled, then fright- 
ful his fury will be. 240 
For what I invented as lies, before I away 

from him got, 
You can think. For me of a truth next 

door to a hanging it came ; 
I was never in bitterer plight, nor ever in 

greater dismay ; 
Indeed, I should never desire again in such 

danger to be. 
In short, let happen what may, myself I 

will never permit 
To go any more to the court, and thus to 

the power of the king 
My life to surrender again ; it needed the 

greatest of skill, 
My thumb, by the sweat of my face, from 

out of his mouth to extract. 



l66 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Then, troubled, dame Ermelyn said : What 

profit thereby shall we gain? 
Wretched and strange shall we be in 

every country but this. 250 
Here all we can wish we possess. You 

master remain of your serfs. 
And do you so terribly need new risks and 

adventures to seek? 
Remember this truth : In order to follow 

the bird in the bush, 
The bird in the hand to release is neither 

sagacious nor wise. 
We here can live safely enough ! Why, 

look at our citadel's strength ! 
If the king with his army beleaguer us 

here, or even resolve 
The road with his forces to hold, we still 

such a number possess 
Of loopholes and passages hid, that we can 

in safety effect 
Our escape; but you know it better than I, 

so why do I speak? 
For him by main force to attempt to get 

us again in his hands, 260 



CANTO VI. 



167 



Work without measure will take, and troubles 

me not in the least. 
But for you to have taken a vow to leave 

me for over the sea, 
That worries me much. It stuns me almost. 

What good could it do? 



Dear woman, afflict yourself not, said Rey- 
nard to her in reply. 
Just listen to me and note what I say: 

far better forsworn 
Than of life to be shorn ! Thus said to 

me once at confession a sage : 
An oath of compulsion is nought. Not a 

snap of the finger care I 
For any such trifle as that ! I speak of 

the oath, understand. 
It then shall be done as you say, and I 

will continue at home. 
But little I have, of a truth, to look for 

in Rome, and if I 270 
Myself by ten pledges had bound, I should 

never Jerusalem see ; 



1 68 REYNARD THE FOX. 

I mean to remain with you here, as is 

certainly most to my mind ; 
Other places I do not regard as better than 

that which I have. 
If mischief the king will me do, then 

calmly I must it await; 
He is strong and too mighty for me, yet 

possibly I may succeed 
In duping him yet once again, and slipping 

the harlequin's cap 
Over his ears with its bells. He shall, if 

I live long enough, 
Find matters far worse than he wants; of 

that I will give him my oath. 

Impatiently Bellyn began to grumble out- 
side of the door: 

Do you, Lampen, not mean to depart? 
Come now and let us be gone! 280 

His call Reynard heard and hurried outside, 
and there to him said : 

My dear, Lampen earnestly begs that you 
will accept his regrets, 



CANTO VI. 



i6g 



He is happy within with his aunt, and 
thinks you will not grudge him that. 

Go on very slowly ahead, for his aunt, 
mistress Ermlyn, will not, 

This instant, permit him to leave ; their 
pleasure you would not disturb. 



Then Bellyn responded in turn : An out- 
cry I heard, what was that? 
Lampen I heard ; and he called to me : 

Help! O, Bellyn, come help! 
Have you any harm to him done? Then 

Reynard judiciously said : 
Do not misconceive what I say; I spoke of 

the journey I've vowed, 
And then was my wife overcome, it seemed 

she was ready to faint; 290 
There befell her a deathly affright, as if in 

a swoon she appeared. 
Now Lampen this saw with alarm, and, in 

his distraction, he cried: 
Come help me, O Bellyn, I beg! Oh, 

tarry not long from my aid! 



« 



iyO REYNARD THE FOX. 

My aunt will never, I'm sure, again to me 

living come back. 
So far as I know, Bellyn said, it was 

terror that made him call out. 
Not a hair of his body is hurt, protested 

the villain with oaths; 
I would very much rather that harm to 

me, than to Lampen, occur. 
Reynard then said: Did you hear? But 

yesterday bade me the king, 
As soon as I got to my home, him back 

in some letters to send 
My notions of what should be done in cer- 
tain important affairs? 300 
Dear nephew, these take with you now, I 

have them all ready to send. 
Therein pretty things do I say, and give 

him most prudent advice. 
Lampen is fully content, I heard him with 

joy, as I left, 
Recalling to mind with his aunt events of 

the days long ago. 
How they prattled! As if they never could 

tire; they ate and they drank, 



CANTO VI. 



171 



And greatly each other enjoyed ; meanwhile 
my advices I wrote. 

Dear Reinhart, said Bellyn to this, you 

must the despatches be sure 
To safely protect; no pocket have I in 

which them to put, 
And should I break open the seal, with me 

very hard would it go. 
Reynard said : That I know well enough 

how to do; the wallet, I think, 310 
That Bruin gave me from his hide, is fit- 
ting exactly for that ; 
It is thick and also it's tough ; in that I'll 

the letters secure. 
The king, in return, will bestow a special 

reward upon you ; 
With honor receive you he will ; thrice 

welcome to him will you be. 
All this believed Bellyn the ram. Then 

hastened the other again 
Back into the house ; the wallet he took 

and sprily stuck in 



172 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



The head of the massacred hare, and also 

bethought him of how 
He Bellyn could manage to keep from getting 

inside of the pouch. 

He said, as he came out again: Your neck 

hang the wallet around, 
And nothing, my nephew, permit to move 

you to make an attempt 320 
Within the despatches to look; such prying 

would be a disgrace. 
With care have I fastened them up, and 

thus you must let them remain. 
Not even unfasten the bag; I heedful have 

been that the knot 
Shall be skillfully tied, for such is my way 

in important affairs 
That pass between me and the king; and, 

should the king find that the thongs 
Are entwined in the usual way, it then 

will be granted that you 
His grace and his presents deserve, as a 

messenger whom he can trust. 



CANTO VI. 173 

When once you put eyes on the king, if 

you in still higher esteem 
By him would in future be held, then let 

him imagine that you, 
Have me with discretion advised what I in 

the letters should put, 330 
And even in writing them helped ; this 

profit and honor will bring. 
And Bellyn was mightily pleased, and 

bounded above from the place 
High up in the air with delight; ran hither 

and thither, and said : 
Reynard, my nephew and lord, I now that 

you love me perceive, 
And honor on me would bestow. Before 

all the lords of the court 
It will add very much to my fame, that I 

such transcendent ideas, 
In language so choice and refined, have 

composed; for I, in good truth, 
Know not, as do you, how to write, but 

they shall imagine I do; 
And you have I only to thank. It truly 

turned out for my good 



174 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



That hither I travelled with you. Pray, tell 

me what further you wish ! 340 

Is Lampen not going with me, now that 
I'm starting from here? 

No, coolly the villain replied, just now that 

impossible is ; 
You slowly go on in advance, and he shall 

come after, as soon 
As I some momentous affairs to him have 

entrusted and charged. 
God with you remain, Bellyn said, I now 

will walk on as you say. 
And he hastened away from the place, 

arriving at noon at the court. 

As on him the king cast his eyes, and also 

the wallet espied, 
He exclaimed: You Bellyn, pray whence 

do you come? And where is the fox? 
You carry his wallet, I see, pray what is 

the meaning of that? 



CANTO VI. 



175 



Then Bellyn as follows replied : He begged 

me, most gracious of kings, 350 
Two letters to you to convey, which we 

had together composed. 
In these you will find some matters of 

weight with acumen discussed ; 
And as to the contents indeed, therein my 

advice has been sought ; 
Here in the knapsack they are ; the knots 

quite securely he tied. 



The monarch commanded forthwith, that 

summoned the beaver should be, 
Who notary was and scribe to the king, 

and Bockert was called ; 
His business it was to receive all letters of 

weight and finesse, 
And decipher aloud to the king, as he 

many languages knew. 
And the king sent for Tybert as well, who 

also was present to be. 
When Bockert the knots had untied, with 

Tybert his comrade to help, 360 



176 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



He drew from the wallet the head of 

Lampen, the poor murdered hare, 
And cried with astonishment great: And 

this is a letter, indeed! 
It truly is queer! Who has it compiled? 

Who can it explain? 
Lampen's head this undoubtedly is ; mistake 

about that there is none. 

With horror were stricken the king and 

the queen ; and then did the king 
Bend forward his head and exclaim: Oh 

fox, that I had you again ! 
The king and the queen were distressed, 

beyond any words to express. 
Reynard on me has imposed! The monarch 

cried out. Oh, that I 
To his wicked and scandalous lies had not 

given heed as I did! 
Confounded appeared he to be, and also the 

beasts were perplexed. 370 

Lupardus, however, began, who was closely 
allied to the king: 



CANTO VI. 



177 



I cannot conceive, in good sooth, why you in 

such trouble should be, 
Nor either your consort the queen. Such 

notions away from you drive ! 
Take courage, or you may indeed be covered 

with shame before all. 
Are you not our ruler and lord? Then all 

who are here must obey. 



On that score alone, said the king, you 

need not at all be amazed 
That I am thus grieved to the heart. In 

duty, alas, I have failed ! 
For me has the traitor induced, with 

shameful and scandalous tricks, 
To punish my comrades and friends. At 

present there lie in disgrace 
Bruin and Isengrim both ; repent should I 

not from my heart? 380 
No glory to me does it bring, that I to 

the best of the lords 
Of my court have so wickedly done, and 

then in the liar himself 



178 REYNARD THE FOX. 

So fully my trust have reposed, and so 

indiscreetly behaved. 
I followed too quickly my wife, who suffered 

herself to be duped, 
And begged and entreated for him. Oh, 

had I but firmer remained ! 
But now is repentance too late, and all 

admonition in vain. 

And thus did Lupardus reply : Lord king, 

lend an ear to my prayer, 
And suffer no longer regret. The evil 

that's done can be squared. 
For atonement deliver the ram at once to 

the wolves and the bear; 
Bellyn has frankly confessed, intrepidly too, 

that he gave 390 
His counsel that Lampen should die. Now 

let him pay for it back! 
And we, after that has been done, together 

for Reynard will make, 
And catch him if well it turn out; then 

can he quickly be hanged. 



CANTO VI. 



179 



If permitted to speak, he'll talk himself 

free, and never will hang. 
I know that the wolf and the bear can 

surely be reconciled thus. 

This heard with much pleasure the king, 

and unto Lupardus he said: 
Your counsel is grateful to me ; so now 

with despatch go and fetch 
Both of the barons to me, and they shall 

with honor again 
With me in my council have seats. And 

see that the animals all 
In a body together be called, who here at 

the court may have been. 400 
They all shall be duly informed how Rey- 
nard hath shamefully lied, 
How out of my hands he escaped, and 

Lampen with Bellyn's aid slew; 
And all shall the wolf and the bear with 

due veneration receive. 
So I, for amends, give up to my lords, as 

you have advised, 



180 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Bellyn, the traitor, and all his relations for 
time without end. 

Lupardus no rest himself gave till he had 

the prisoners both, 
Bruin and Isengrim, found; they then were 

set free, and he said : 
Consolation accept at my hands! I bring 

you our prince's good-will, 
And also free convoy from here. I wish 

to inform you, my lords, 
That his majesty suffers regret if harm 

upon you he has brought. 410 
He bids me assure you of this, and wishes 

to satisfy both. 
To expiate what has been done, you Bellyn, 

with all of his race, 
Yea, every one of his kin, for ever shall 

have as your own. 
Attack them with more ado, be it either 

in forest or field 
That on them you happen to come; they 

are all of them given to you. 



CANTO VI. 



181 



And still, in addition to this, our monarch 

has deigned to permit 
That Reynard, who you has deceived, you 

may in all manners despoil ; 
And him, with his offspring and wife, and 

all of his kindred as well, 
Wherever they be, may pursue, and none 

shall with you interfere. 
This freedom so dear I proclaim in the 

name of our master the king ; 420 
He, and all who may after him rule, these 

rights will respect and uphold. 
You now have to only forget the worries 

you've had to endure, 
And swear to him service and truth, and 

this you with honor can do. 
He never will harm you again; I advise 

you the offer to grasp. 

Thus was atonement decreed; and by it 

the ram was compelled 
To pay the account with his life ; and all 

of his kindred and kind 



1 82 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Have, down to this day, been pursued by 

Isengrim's vigorous stock. 
Thus the hate everlasting began. Even 

now continue the wolves, 
Without any shyness or shame, the lambs 

and the sheep to revile, 
And have not the shade of a doubt that 

justice is wholly with them ; 430 
Nothing assuages their wrath, and placated 

they never can be. 
But for Bruin and Isengrim's sake, in order 

them honor to pay, 
The king had proceedings at court prolonged 

for twelve days, as he wished 
To openly show how eager he was these 

lords to appease. 434 



CANTO VII. 



183 



CANTO SEVEN 

And now was the court to be seen in 

splendor adorned and prepared ; 
Many knights were arriving thereat, and the 

beasts, who together had come, 
Were followed by numberless birds; high 

honor did all in one breath 
To Bruin and Isengrim give, who began 

their mishaps to forget. 
There festively sported itself the grandest 

assembly by far, 
That ever together was brought; trumpets 

and kettle-drums clanged, 
The stately dance of the court was started 

with dignified grace, 
And abundance was furnished for all of 

whatever by each could be wished. 
Herald on herald was sent through the land 

to summon the guests, 
The birds and the beasts made ready them- 
selves and in couples arrived. 10 



184 REYNARD THE FOX. 

They traveled by day and by night, the 
whole of them eager to come. 

But Reynard, the fox, was not there; he 

was lying in wait at his home, 
And meant not to go to the court, that 

pilgrim abandoned and false ; 
Little favor expected he there. According 

to habit of old, 
To practice his villainous tricks was the 

pleasantest thing to the scamp. 
And now at the court could be heard the 

most beautiful songs of the day ; 
Sweet food and fine wines to the guests 

with unsparing hand were supplied, 
And tilting and fencing were shown. Of 

those who had come to the feast, 
Attached himself each to his own, and in 

singing and dancing engaged ; 
While at intervals, now and again, the reed- 
pipe and flute might be heard. 20 
And the king, from his hall up above, 

looked affably down on the scene ; 



CANTO VII. 



I8 5 



The unwieldy disorder him pleased, and to 
gaze on it gave him delight. 

Eight days had thus flown to the past (the 

king had come down to the feast, 
And taken his seat at the board among 

the supreme of his lords, 
With his consort, the queen, at his side) 

when bloody the rabbit arrived, 
And, stepping in front of the king, said 

he, in most sorrowful tones: 

Oh, master! oh, king! and all of you 

here ! on me pity bestow ! 
For cruel deception so base and murderous 

actions so vile, 
As now from the fox I endure, have seldom 

been brought to your ken. 
About six o'clock yesterday morn I came on 

him seated alone, 30 
As, taking a stroll on the road, before 

Malepartus I passed ; 



1 86 REYNARD THE FOX. 

I expected to go on my way without moles- 
tation or fear ; 
But, clad in a pilgrim's attire, as though 

morning prayer he perused, 
He was sitting in front of his gate. When 

eyes I put on him I tried 
To pass nimbly by on my road, that I to 

your court might proceed. 
But he spied me. and instantly rose ; to meet 

me, stepped right in my path, 
And I thought that he wished me to greet; 

he seized me, however, instead, 
With murd'rous intent in his grasp, and 

between my ears I could feel 
His claws in my flesh, and I certainly 

thought that my head I should lose, 
For long and sharp are his nails; he pressed 

me below to the earth. 40 
I luckily got myself free and, as I'm so 

spry, I escaped ; 
He snarled as I left him behind, and swore 

he would find me again. 
I bridled my tongue and made off; alas, he, 

however, retained 



"When eyes I put on him, I tried to pass nimbly by on my road. " 



CANTO VII. 



187 



An ear that he tore from my head; and I 

come with a blood-covered scalp. 
See, from it four holes have I borne! You 

will easily grasp in your minds 
The force of the blows that he struck; 

'twas a chance that I ever got up. 
Now consider, I pray, my distress, and reflect 

on your wardship as well ; 
For who can a journey attempt, or who 

can come here to your court, 
If the robber stands guard on the roads 

and damages all who approach? 



He scarcely had drawn to a close when 

alighted the talkative rook, 50 
Sir Corbant, who said: Most worshipful lord 

and beneficent king, 
The tidings are sad that I have to impart ; 

I am not in a state 
To say much, on account of my woe and 

alarm ; and I fear very much 
That my heart it will break, so wretched a 

thing has just happened to me. 



i88 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



My wife, mistress Keenbeak, and I were 

walking together today, 
Betimes in the morn, and Reynard found 

lying as dead on the heath ; 
Both eyes were turned up in his head, and 

lifeless was hanging his tongue 
Far out of his wide open mouth. Then, 

from sheer fright, I began 
To lustily scream ; he moved himself not ; 

I cried and bemoaned ; 
Exclaimed : Woe to me ! and alas ! And 

then I repeated the plaint: 60 
Alas, he is dead ! How sorry for him and 

afflicted I am ! 
My wife was in sadness as well, and voice 

gave we both to our grief. 
I fingered him belly and head ; my wife in 

like manner drew near, 
And placed herself close to his chin, to 

find if his breathing at all 

Gave indication of life, but she waited and 

listened in vain ; 

♦ 

We both to this fact could have sworn. 
Now, please, the calamity hear! 



CANTO VII. 



189 



As without apprehension and sad, to the 
mouth of the treacherous scamp 

She nearer put forward her beak, the mon- 
ster took note of the act, 

And at her with suddenness snapped and 
savagely bit off her head. 

How stricken with terror I was, I will not 
attempt to describe. 70 

Woe, woe ! I shouted and screamed ; then 
darted he forth and, at once, 

Snapped also at me, when backwards I 
started and hastened to fly; 

If I not so nimble had been, he would like- 
wise have me firmly caught. 

The murderer's clutches, indeed, I hardly 
escaped as it was ; 

In haste I flew into a tree. Oh, had I my 
sorrowful life 

Not preserved! My wife I could see held 
fast in the miscreant's claws. 

Alas! the dear creature he quickly devoured, 
and to me he appeared 

Voracious and famished, as if yet another 
he gladly would eat ; 



I9O REYNARD THE FOX. 

He left not a bone unconsumed, not even 

a knuckle remained. 
Such was the blow I sustained. He hurried 

away from the place, 80 
But I was not able to leave; I flew, with 

a sorrowful heart, 
Again to the spot, where all I could find 

was some feathers and blood 
Of my wife's, and these I bring hither to 

you, as a proof of the crime. 
Have pity, beneficent lord ; for should you 

at present again 
With this dastardly traitor forbear, and legit- 
imate vengeance defer ; 
Should you to your safe-guards and peace 

not force and due emphasis give, 
About it much talk there might be, that 

would not be much to your mind ; 
For 'tis said, he is guilty himself of the 

deed, who to punish hath power 
And punisheth not; each then, with high 

hand, tries to carry things on. 
Your dignity it would affect; to give it 

some thought would be well. 90 



CANTO VII. 



I 9 I 



Thus had the plaint of the crow and the 

good little rabbit been brought 
Before the assembled court. Then Leo, the 

king, was enraged, 
And he cried: I now, by my nuptial troth, 

before all of you swear 
That I will so punish this crime, that long 

it remembered shall be. 
My rule and safe-conduct to scoff! That 

will I never endure. 
Too lightly by far put I trust in the scamp 

and let him escape ; 
As a pilgrim him even equipped, and saw 

make his exit from here, 
As if he were going to Rome. What 

indeed did the liar not make 
Us believe ! How well he contrived a word 

in advance from the queen, 
With ease, to secure. On me she prevailed 

and now he is free. 100 
But not the last one shall I be, whose heart 

with repentance is wrung, 
Through taking a woman's advice. And if 

we shall longer allow 



192 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



The villain unpunished to go, we soon 

shall be covered with shame; 
He never was aught but a knave, and such 

will he ever remain. 
Now consult you together, my lords, how 

to catch him and bring him to book ; 
If about it we earnestly set, the matter 

will surely succeed. 

Most highly these words of the king did 

Bruin and Isengrim please. 
At last we our vengeance shall see ! Such 

was the thought of them both; 
Yet express not a word did they dare, for 

clearly they saw that the king 
Was greatly disturbed in his mind, and all 

boiling over with wrath. no 

And after a time said the queen: For 
you, my dear lord, it is bad 

So heavy to be in your wrath and so light 
in the use of bad words; 



CANTO vn. 



193 



Your consequence suffers thereby, and the 

value of what you may say. 
The facts of the case have as yet by no 

means been brought to the light. 
Has yet the accused to be heard; and, 

should he before us be brought, 
Would silent be many a one, who now 

against Reynard declaims. 
Both parties should always be heard, for 

many a venturesome knave 
Brings charges to cover misdeeds of his 

own. As learned and wise 
I Reynard esteemed, without wicked 

thoughts, who always, indeed, 
Had only your good in his mind, though 

now this may not so appear. 120 
To follow his counsel is good, yea, even 

though true that his life 
Be such as to merit much blame. And 

then it is well to reflect 
On the ample extent of his family ties. 

The matter will not 
Be improved by precipitate haste, and 

whatever it be you decide 



194 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



You certainly can, in the end, as lord and 
commander, enforce. 

Hereat sir Lupardus remarked: To many 

you've given your ear, 
Now also give ear unto me. He yet may 

appear and what you 
Decide upon then, at once shall be done; 

so probably think 
These lords who assembled are here, and as 

well your illustrious queen. 

Broke Isengrim in upon this: What each 

may think best let him say, 130 
Give ear, sir Lupardus, to me. If at this 

very moment, indeed, 
Reynard were here and himself should 

acquit of this twofold complaint, 
Still easy for me would it be, to make it 

as clear as the day 
That the law has a claim on his life. But 

silence I'll keep about all, 



CANTO VII. 



195 



Till we him have secured. Can you have 
forgotten how much he the king 

Deceived with that treasure of his, which 
he should in Husterlo, near 

Unto Krekelborn find, and the other great 
falsehoods besides that he told ? 

To all the deceiver he's played, and Bruin 
and me has disgraced ; 

My life I will risk upon this. Thus now 
is the liar engaged 

On the heath ; he is roving about, commit- 
ting foul murders and thefts: 14a 

Seems it good to the king and his lords, 
there matters, of course, as they are 

May go on. Yet, were he in earnest him- 
self to present at the court, 

We him had here seen long ago. The 
scouts of the king were despatched 

All over the land, to summon the guests, 
yet at home he remained. 

To this said the king in reply : By wait- 
ing so long for him here 



196 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



What good do we get? Let each be pre- 
pared (thus do I command) 

To go with me off in six days; for I, let 
me tell you, will see 

An end to these charges and grievances 
brought. What say you, my lords? 

Would the rascal not manage, at last, a land 
to destruction to bring ? 

Make ready as best you know how, and 
come in your armor arrayed; 150 

Come furnished with bow and with spear, 
and all other weapons you have, 

And show yourselves gallant and brave; 
and before me let each of you bear, 

For knights I may dub on the field, with- 
out loss of honor his name. 

Malepartus, the castle, we'll seize, and what 
he may have in the place 

We will then overhaul. Then shouted 
they all in accord : Well obey. 

Thus did the king and his knights deter- 
mine sir Reynard's strong fort, 



CANTO VII. 



197 



Malepartus, to storm, and the fox to chas- 
tise. But Grimbart, at this, 
Who one of the council had been, went 

stealthily out and made haste 
Reynard, his uncle, to find, in order to 

take him the news. 
In sorrow his road he pursued, and thus 

he bemoaned to himself: 160 
My uncle, what now may take place? Alas! 

with good reason for thee 
Do all of thy kindred lament, thou head of 

the whole of our race. 
When our causes were pleaded by you we 

felt ourselves perfectly safe, 
For no one could stand before you and 

your varied supply of resource. 



Thus going-, the castle he reached and Rey- 
nard found sitting outside, 

Who had managed, just prior to this, two 
tender young pigeons to catch, 

That out of their nest had escaped, to 
make an endeavor to fly; . 



I98 REYNARD THE FOX. 

But short were their wings for the task, 

and down they had fallen to earth, 
Unable again to arise ; in this way had Rey- 
nard them seized, 
For he prowled about often to hunt. Just 

then in the distance he saw 170 
Coming Grimbart, and did him await. In 

giving him greeting he said: 
My nephew, more welcome you are than 

anyone else of my blood. 
But why are you running so hard? You 

gasp! Are you bringing me news? 
And Grimbart replied to* him thus: The 

tidings I have to announce, 
When heard, will no solace convey; you see, 

I come running through fear. 
Your life and estates are all lost. The 

wrath of the king I have seen ; 
He swears that you now he will catch and 

put to an infamous death. 
He even has ordered us all, the sixth day 

from now, with our arms 
To march to this place, with bow and with 

sword, with wagons and guns. 



CANTO VII. I99 

Against you is everything- now, so think on 

the matter betimes; 180 
For Bruin and Isengrim both are again hand 

and glove with the king; 
More trusted by him of a truth than I was 

e'er trusted by you ; 
And all comes to pass as they wish. A 

horrible cut-throat and thief 
You Isengrim openly called, and in this 

way excites he the king. 
He has our high sheriff been made, as you, 

in some weeks, will find out. 
The rabbit appeared, and also the crow, 

and they brought in the court 
The gravest complaints against you. If 

only the king have success 
In catching you now, your life is not long 

that can I but fear. 

Nothing further? responded the fox. For 
all that you, so far, have said 

I care not a snap of my thumb. If the 

king and his council complete 190 



200 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Had doubly and trebly affirmed, and taken 

inviolate oaths, 
Yet I, when I come in their midst, will 

raise myself up above all. 
They advise and still they advise, yet never 

can speak to the point. 
Dear nephew, all this never mind, but 

come with me now and find out 
What you I am able to give. These 

pigeons just now I have caught, 
Young and fat; they still of all dishes I 

know are the most to my taste ; 
For easy they are to digest, one has but 

to swallow them down ; 
And sweet do the little bones taste, they 

verily melt in the mouth, 
Composed of half milk and half blood. 

Spoon-meat agrees with me well, 
And it's also the same with my wife; so 

come and she will, I am sure, 200 
To greet us be pleased ; yet let her not know 

for what purpose you've come, 
A trifle sinks into her heart and worries 

her almost to death. 



CANTO VII. 



201 



Tomorrow with you I will go to the court, 

and I hope that you there 
Will give me, dear newhew, such help as 

becomes a relation to give. 

My life and my goods I engage at your 

service to cheerfully place, 
Said the badger, and Reynard replied : Be 

sure I shall bear this in mind ; 
So long as I live, it shall tend to your 

gain. The other rejoined; 
Go boldly your judges to face, and your 

cause do your best to defend. 
What you have to urge they will hear; 

Lupardus himself has declared 
That punished you ought not to be, till you 

have been given the chance 21 a 

To fully put in your defence, and the 

queen doth herself think the same. 
This circumstance note and endeavor to use. 

Then Reynard remarked : 
Be only composed and all will go well* 

The irascible king, 



202 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



When lie hears me, will alter his mind; 
it all will come right in the end. 

And thus went the two within doors, and 

there they with kindness were met, 
And well by the housewife received; 

whatever she had she brought forth. 
Among them the pigeons were shared, and 

tasteful and good they were found; 
And each ate his share, still they had not 

enough and undoubtedly would 
Have well a half-dozen consumed, if but 

they had been to be had. 

To the badger then Reynard remarked: 

You must, my dear uncle, admit 220 
That I've children of qualities rare, with 

whom every one must be pleased. 
Now tell me how Rossel you like, and 

Reinhart, the little one, too. 
Some day they our race will augment; they 

little by little begin 



CANTO VII. 



203 



Themselves to improve, and to me are a 

pleasure from morning to night. 
The one can lay hold of a fowl and the 

other a chicken ensnare ; 
And well to the water they take, in order 

young ducklings to fetch, 
Or a plover, perchance. To send them more 

often to hunt I should like, 
But taught must they be, above all, with 

prudence and caution to act, 
That springes and hunters and dogs they well 

may know how to avoid ; 
And then, if right methods they learn, and 

reliable evidence give 230 
That they are well trained, as is fitting 

they should, then daily they ought 
Provisions to find and bring in, and nought 

should be wanting at home. 
For both of them take after me and join 

in the fiercest of sports ; 
And, when they begin so to play, all others 

come off second best ; 
Their rival them feels at his throat and 

struggles not long after that; 



204 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Which is Reynard's own manner of sport. 

They also are swift in their grip, 
And sure is the spring that they give, 

which methinks is precisely the thing. 

To this Grimbart said: To honor it tends, 

and one may rejoice, 
Young children to have such as one would 

desire, and who in their craft 
Get early adroit, their parents to help. I 

am very much pleased 240 
To know them to be of my race, and hope 

for the best at their hands. 
That matter we'll leave for today, said 

Reynard, and now let us go 
To our rest, for we all are fatigued, and 

Grimbart's completely worn out. 
At this they lay down in the room, which, 

over the whole of its floor, 
Was covered with hay and with leaves, and 

there all together they slept. 

But Reynard, through fear, kept awake; the 
matter appeared to him t now 



CANTO VII. 



205 



Of counsel the best to demand, and morn- 
ing still found him in thought. 

He got himself up from his couch, and unto 
his wife he ■ observed : 

You will not be worried, I trust, but Grim- 
bart has come to entreat 

That I go with him back to the court. 
You tranquilly rest here at home. 250 
, Should any one speak about me, make the 
best of the case that you can, 

And lock up the castle with care ; this do, 
and then all will go well. 



And Ermelyn said : It seems to me 

strange that you dare to present 
Yourself any more at the court, where you 

are so lowly esteemed. 
Is it so that you must? I can't make it 

out. Consider the past. 
Indeed, said Reynard to this, no jesting 

affair was it then ; 
For many were seeking my harm, and I 

came into terrible straits. 



206 REYNARD THE FOX. 

But very diverse are the things that, under 

the sun, come about. 
Against expectation, at times, we of this 

and of that have a taste; 
And who thinks that he anything has, may 

suddenly find that it's gone. 260 
So let me, 1 pray you, depart; for I there 

have a great deal to do. 
Keep calm ! That I earnestly beg ; there 

is not any reason for you 
To worry yourself. The . issue await, for, 

my dear, you will see. 
If only I can it effect, me in five or six 

days again back. 
And then went he forth on his way, with 

Grimbart, the badger, as guard. 265 



CANTO VIII. 



207 



CANTO EIGHT 

And now both together they went still 

further on over the heath, 
Grimbart and Reynard the fox, direct to 

the court of the king; 
And Reynard remarked on the road : Let 

matters turn out as they may, 
I now a presentiment feel that our trip 

advantageous will prove. 
Dear uncle, attend to me, pray! Since last 

unto you I confessed 
New slips have I made again back into 

culpable actions and thoughts; 
The grave and the minor things hear, as 

well as what then I forgot. 



From the body and hide of the bear I 

caused to be cut for my use 
A large and available piece, and to me 

have the wolf and his wife 
Been forced to relinquish their shoes ; in 

this way I vented my spleen. 10 



208 REYNARD THE FOX. 

All this was by lying procured ; I knew 

very well how the king* 
To provoke, and him in this manner have 

duped to a frightful extent. 
For I told him a wonderful yarn and fan- 
ciful treasures devised. 
But that did not make me content, so 

Lampen I sent to his death, 
And Bellyn packed off with the murder'd 

one's head. The king was enraged 
As soon as he noticed the ram, and made 

him the reckoning pay. 
The coney I pinched as hard as I could 

at the back of his ears, 
And nearly deprived of his life, and then 

out of temper became, 
Because he made good his escape. I must 

also confess that the crow 
Not at all with injustice complained, for 

Keenbeak, his dear little wife, 20 
I devoured. Such are the deeds I have 

done since last I confessed. 
But there's one thing which then I forgot, 

and which to you now I will tell ; 



CANTO VIII. 



209 



An infamous trick that I played, and which 

it is right you should know, 
For I do not desire any more such a burden 

to bear. On the back 
Of the wolf I saddled it then ; we were 

walking together one day, 
Elvarden and Koultlmlst between, when, a 

short distance off, we espied 
A mare in a field with her foal, and each 

of the two were alike 
As black as a raven in hue ; in age the 

young foal might have been 
Approaching four months. With hunger 

was Isengrim racked, so he begged 
Me to go and enquire of the mare if she 

would not sell us the foal, 30 
And also the price. So to her I proceeded 

and ventured the thing. 
My dear mistress mare, to her I observed, 

the foal is your own, 
As I know; will you sell it to me? To 

ascertain that is my wish. 
She replied : If enough you will pay I with- 
out it can very well do, 



2IO REYNARD THE FOX. 

And the sum for its purchase required, 

that you may see for yourself ; 
Behind, upon one of my feet, you will find 

it engraved. Then I saw 
What she meant, and thereto I replied: 

I must to you freely confess 
That reading and writing with me are not 

the success I could wish, 
Nor indeed do I covet the child for myself; 

it was Isengrim wished 
Your terms with exactness to learn, and 

sent me to you to find out. 40 

She said in reply : Let him come ; he then 
can find out what he wants. 

I left her and Isengrim found where still he 
was waiting for me. 

If you would your hunger appease, just go, 
I announced, and the mare 

Will give you the colt ; the price can be 
found on one of her hoofs, 

Engraved on the frog. I could, she re- 
marked, try to find it myself ; 



you would your hunger appease, just go,' I announced, 
'And the mare will give you the colt.' " 



CANTO VIII. 



211 



But I, to my shame and chagrin, many- 
things am compelled to let slip, 

For reading and writing I never was 
taught. My uncle, you try, 

And look at what there is inscribed ; you 
may it decipher, perhaps. 



Quoth Isengrim then : Not read it you say ? 

To me that were strange ! 
German, Italian, and French, and Latin I 

thoroughly know, 50 
For a steady attendant I've been at the 

schools which in Erfurt are found. 
With the learned and wise of the place, 

including the masters of law, 
Have judgments and questions exchanged, 

and also my license received 
In regular form ; and of writings, all kinds 

that can ever be found 
I can read with the ease of my name ; I 

therefore today shall not fail. 
Wait here! I will go and the letters 

peruse, and then we shall see. 



212 REYNARD THE FOX. 

He went and enquired of the mare : How 

much do you ask for the foal? 
Make it cheap! She thereupon said: The 

amount you can read for yourself; 
You will find it on one of my feet, a hind 

one, distinctly engraved. 
Let me see it, responded the wolf. She 

said : I will do as you wish. 60 
Then up from the . grass went her foot, on 

which had been fastened a shoe, 
Beset' with a half-dozen r^ails; straight 

out flew her hoof, and went wide 
Not so much as a hair; hit him plump on 

his skull, and he fell to the earth, 
And lay there as though he were dead. 

She galloped, however, from there 
As fast as she could. Thus wounded he 

lay and long so remained. 
An hour passed away, to move then again 

he began, and he howled 
Like a dog. I trotted then up to his side 

and sir uncle, I said, 
Pray, where is the mare? How tasted the 

colt? You feasted yourself 



CANTO VIII. 



213 



And me quite forgot; that was wrong, for 
I it was brought you the news; 

After eating, a nap you enjoyed ; now tell 
me, I beg you, how ran 70 

The writing found under the hoof? An 
eminent scholar you are. 

Said he : Are you bantering still ? Just 

now have gone matters with me 
111 enough ! In truth, would a stone 

some pity upon me bestow. 
That long-legged jade of a mare ! May 

the hangman pay it her back! 
For clouted with iron was her foot; and 

these were the letters I found : 
Some nails newly forged ! From which I 

received six wounds in my head. 

He hardly got off with his life. I now 

have confessed to you all, 
And pardon, dear nephew, I crave for 

these my iniquitous works. 



214 REYNARD THE FOX. 

How things may turn out at the court is 

not sure ; however, I have 
My conscience relieved of a load, and 

washed myself clean from my sins. 80 
Now tell me how I may reform, in order 

remission to gain. 

Then Grimbart replied: I find you encum- 
bered afresh with misdeeds- 
Still, the dead cannot live any more. Far 

better, indeed, would it be, 
If life you'd allowed them to keep. Yet, 

uncle, I now am disposed, 
On account of the terrible hour, and because 

of the nearness of death, 
That menaces you, your sins to remit, as 

the servant of Christ; 
For relentless they follow you up, and I 

tremble with fear for the worst. 
Above all, for the head of the hare will 

vengeance against you be sought ; 
Extremely audacious it was, I must own, 

our monarch to vex, 



CANTO VIII. 215 

And is of more damage to you than you, 
in your foolishness, thought. 90 

Not a scrap, responded the scamp. Here's 
something I wish you to hear : 

To live without sin in the world is some- 
thing uncommonly rare, 

One cannot so holy be kept, as when in a 
cloister, you know ; 

If a man has with honey to deal, his 
fingers he licks now and then. 

Now Lampen me greatly annoyed, for back- 
wards and forwards he skipped 

In front of my eyes all about ; his fat little 
body I liked, 

And love I let go to the dogs. To Bellyn 
I'd reason to wish 

But little that's good. The damage is 
theirs, the sin is mine own. 

But they were in measure so coarse, and in 
all, whatsoever they did, 

So stupid and dull. Needed I, then, observe 
strict decorum with them? 100 



2l6 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Small liking had I for such things; myself, 

at that time, from the court 
I had with anxiety saved, and taught them 

in this and in that, 
But 'twas all of no use. Each ought, it 

is true, his neighbor to love, 
That I'm constrained to admit, still I held 

them in little esteem ; 
And dead is dead, as you your own self 

have remarked ; then permit 
Us of other things now to converse. In 

truth, these are dangerous times! 
In high life and low what is now going 

on? But talk we must not; 
Yet cannot help using our eyes and having 

some thoughts of our own. 

The king himself steals, as we know, like 

all the rest of the crowd ; 
What he does not lay hands on himself he 

orders the bears and the wolves no 
To secure, and believes that so doing is 

right. There is none to be found 



CANTO VIII. 2 17 

Who will venture to tell him the truth, 

not even confessor or priest, 
So deep has the evil struck root. They 

are dumb! and why is this so? 
With him they the plunder enjoy, no mat- 
ter how small is the gain. 
Should any one go and complain, with equal 

advantage he might 
Reach out for the air; he squanders his 

time, and had better employ 
Himself in some other pursuit. For gone 

is gone, and when once 
From you a more potent one takes what 

you have possessed, to your plaint 
But little attention is paid, and wearisome 

gets it at last. 
The lion's our monarch and lord, and all 

things to seize for himself 120 
He considers as due to his rank. As a 

rule, us his people he calls, 
And certainly all that is ours appears to 

belong unto him. 



2l8 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Wilt allow me, my uncle, to speak? Our 

king is the fondest, by far, 
Of those with full hands who approach, and 

who, in accord with the tune 
That is piped, understand how to dance ; 

too clearly is that to be seen. 
That the wolf and the bear have obtained 

access to his council again 
Is to many a wrong; they steal and they 

rob, yet are loved by the king. 
All see it, and yet nothing say, each hoping 

that his turn will come. 
Over four there are thus to be found, hav- 
ing place at the side of the king, 
Who favored are more than the rest, and 

greatest of all are at court. 130 
But if a poor devil like me put hands 

upon even a chick, 
Upon him, they pounce all at once and 

follow till he has been caught; 
And then, with one voice, they condemn the 

fellow with clamor to death. 
Petty robbers are hanged on the spot, the 

bigger ones get for themselves 



CANTO VIII. 



219 



Advantages great. They govern the land 
and the castles possess. 

See, uncle, I notice all this, and upon it 
can't help but reflect. 

My own game I thereupon play and, more- 
over, I think very oft 

That right it assuredly is, since such a great 
number so act. 

To be sure, then my conscience wakes up 
and pictures to me, from afar, 

The anger and justice of God, and makes 
me reflect on the end. 140 

For injustice, no matter how small, compen- 
sation at last must be made. 

Repentance at heart I then feel ; it lasts, 
however, not long. 

Indeed, what good does it do to belong to 
the best? For the best 

From slander's vile tongue, in these times, 
remain not in safety exempt. 

The people now think it their right into 
all kinds of things to enquire, 

And no one they lightly forget; they invent 
even this thing and that. 



220 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Little good in the commons is found, but 

few of them really deserve 
To have for their rulers and lords such 

men as are honest and just; 
For of that which is evil they sing, and 

ever and ever they talk; 
They know what is good in their lords, be 

high or be low their degree, 150 
Yet this they say nothing about, and seldom 

we find it discussed. 
Worst of all is, however, to me the conceit 

of that notion so false, 
Which gets such a hold of mankind, that 

any one can, in the strife 
Of a vehement, turbulent will, direct the 

affairs of the world. 
Should each one his children and wife, 

however, in order maintain, 
Or his insolent servants contrive to subdue, 

then in calmness he could, 
While fools are expending their means, 

rejoice in a temperate life. 
But how shall the world be improved, 

when each allows all to himself, 
• 



CANTO VIII. 



221 



And determines the rest of mankind by 

force to bring under his rule? 
Thus deeper, and deeper, for aye, into all 

that is wicked we sink. 160 
Slander and treason and lies, and taking of 

oaths that are false, 
Embezzlement, murder, and theft, one hears 

nought of anything else; 
False prophets and hypocrites both are 

shamefully cheating mankind. 



Thus every one passes his life ; and, if they 

be faithfully warned, 
They receive it with scorn, and remark : 

Oh yes ! but if sin were, indeed, 
So painful and hard to be borne as learned 

men here and there preach, 
Then surely the parsons themselves would 

try from all faults to be free. 
Bad example they plead as excuse, and in 

that are precisely allied 
To the whole of the simian race, which, 

formed but to mimic and mock, 



222 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Yet having nor reason nor choice, must 
suffer ineffable harm. 170 

Of a truth, ought the men of the cloth 

themselves to more fitly demean. 
Very much could by them be achieved, if 

it only in private they did; 
But they care not . a tittle for us outside of 

their calling and craft, 
And practice whatever they please in front 

of our eyes, as if we 
Were stricken with blindness complete; too 

clearly however we see 
That their vows rejoice the good Lord to 

fully as small an extent 
As suit they their fallible friends, whose 

lives by the world are absorbed. 

Thus do the priests, as a rule, on the 

opposite side of the Alps, 
Their own precious darlings enjoy; in these 

regions also there are 



CANTO VIII. 



223 



As many who sinfully act. But I shall be 

told that they have 180 
Their children like those who in wedlock 

are joined ; and them to maintain 
They struggle with ardor and zeal, and 

raise them high up in the world. 
But afterwards these can reflect no more 

whence their fathers arose, 
And to none will precedency yield, but 

proudly and haughtily walk 
As if they were noble of race, and always 

are firm in the thought 
That the matter is strictly correct. A custom 

of yore it was not 
So high to regard the children of priests, 

but now are they all 
As my lords and my ladies addressed. Yes, 

money can do what it will. 
It is seldom a princely estate can be found, 

where the parsons do not 
Make a levy of taxes and rents, and extort 

from the village and mill. 190 
They turn topsy-turvy the world, and com- 
mon folk wickedness learn ; 



224 REYNARD THE FOX. 

For 'tis plain when the clergy thus do, 

that all in their sins will indulge, 
And the blind will be leading the blind 

away from whatever is good. 
Indeed, who has ever remarked the good 

works of these heaven-born priests, 
And how they the holy church, by example 

of goodness, build up? 
Who ever lives now in such way ? We 

are simply confirmed in our sins. 
Thus it now with the people befalls, so 

how can the world then improve ? 

But listen still further to me! If one 

out of wedlock is born, 
Then let him thereover be still. What 

more can he do in the case? 
Now I mean only this understand: If any 

such one shall himself 200 
But simply with meekness conduct, and not 

with an air of conceit 
His fellows provoke, no offence is received, 

and one would be wrong 



CANTO VIII. 



225 



To make it a subject of talk. Our birth 

has no power us to make 
Either good or exalted in mind, nor can it 

be held for reproach ; 
But virtue and vice are the things that 

make true distinctions in man. 
Men of learning and worth in the church 

are ever with justice esteemed 
And honored by all ; but the wicked a 

wicked example present. 
Should such a one preach at his best, yet 

at length will the laity say : 
When he righteousness talks and wickedness 

does, how are we to select? 
Nor is he of use to the church ; to each 

in his sermons he says: 210 
Give money to keep up the church ; that, 

beloved, is what I advise, 
If indulgence and mercy you wish to obtain. 

Thus his discourse he ends. 
And does precious little to help, indeed, not 

a thing; and, for all 
That he cares, might the church tumble 

down. Still further to go, he esteems 



226 REYNARD THE FOX. 

The best kind of life to be this: in costly- 
attire to be clothed, 
And to eat of the daintiest food. And in 

worldly affairs if he finds 
Himself overwhelmed with concern, how can 

he in worship engage? 
Good parsons in serving the Lord are daily 

and hourly employed, 
And put into practice the good; and thus 

to the holy church 
Of the greatest of service they are ; and, 

through good example, their flocks, 220 
To the gate of salvation they lead, by the 

way that is narrow and strait. 

But I know the behooded as well ; they 

prattle and jabber and prate 
Ever concerning their forms, and are always 

in search of the rich; 
The people to flatter know how, and love 

to be called as their guests. 
Invite you but one, then a second arrives, 

and you further will find 



CANTO VIII. 



22/ 



Yet two or three others appear. Then 

again, in the convent the one 
Who well understands how to talk the 

quickest promotion will gain ; 
The lector is sure to become, or may be 

the custos or prior. 
The others are pushed to one side. The 

dishes are furnished and served 
In quite a dissimilar way; for some must, 

of nights, in the choir 230 
Sing and read, and visit the haunts of the 

dead, while others obtain 
Great favors, and rest can procure, and eat 

the most costly of food. 



The legates likewise of the pope, the abbots 

and prelates and monks, 
The beguins and even the nuns, of all a 

great deal might be said. 
Everywhere is the cry: Give me what is 

yours and touch not what's mine. 
In truth, there are few to be found, not 

seven, who live in accord 



228 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



With the brotherhood's precepts and rules, 

as a pattern of virtuous life. 
The priesthood is thus to be found most 

thoroughly rotten and weak. 

My uncle, the badger replied, I see you 

minutely confess 
Exotical sins. What advantageth that? 

Methinks there must be 240 
Enough of your own. And tell me, my 

uncle, why you should concern 
Yourself with the clergy's affairs and this 

thing and that, as you do? 
Let each his own burden take up, and each 

and every one give 
Account of himself, how he in his station 

of life doth attempt 
His duty to do, which is something that 

no one on earth may neglect, 
Not either the old or the young, in cloister 

or out in the world. 
You talk altogether too much about things 

of all kinds, and at length 



CANTO VIII. 



229 



Might me into error seduce. So thoroughly 

well you're aware 
How now is directed the world, and all its 

affairs are ordained, 
That none for a parson is better endowed,. 

With the rest of the sheep, 250 
I would come to confess at your house, and 

under your teaching would sit, 
Of your wisdom a knowledge to get; for I 

am compelled to admit 
That stupid and rough the most of us are, 

and need good advice. 



When they, in such converse as this, had 

come pretty near to the court, 
Reynard said : Thus now is the Rubicon 

passed ! and he roused himself up. 
And they came upon Martin the ape, who, 

just at that time, had set forth, 
With intention to travel to Rome. He 

gave a good day to them both. 
Dear uncle, stand well to your guns, he 

sagely remarked to the fox> 



23O REYNARD THE FOX. 

And asked about this thing and that, 

although the whole matter he knew. 
Ah ! how in these lattermost days does fort- 
une against me take sides, 260 
Said Reynard to him in reply; some thieves 

have been at it again 
And accused me once more, I know not of 

whom they consist, but in chief 
Are the wretched young rabbit and crow ; 

the one is bereft of his wife, 
And the other of one of his ears. Now 

what do I care about that? 
Could only I speak with the king, then 

smart should they both for their pains. 
But most I'm impeded by this, that under 

the ban of the pope 
I still, to my sorrow, remain. The dean 

has full power in the case, 
And he is esteemed by the king. Now 

the ban has upon me been put 
Entirely for Isengrim's sake, who once had 

become a recluse, 
But ran from the convent away, wherein he 

sojourned at Elkmar. 270 



CANTO VIII. 



231 



He swore that he could not so live, for he 

was too strictly confined, 
From food had too long to abstain, nor 

could so much reading endure ; 
So I helped him away from the place. It 

repents me the deed to have done, 
For he slanders me now to the king and 

ever me seeks to disgrace. 
To Rome must I go? In the meantime at 

home will my family be 
At loss what to do for themselves, for the 

wolf cannot leave them alone, 
But molests them where meet them he may. 

Then again, very many there are 
Who think nought but evil of me, and 

seize on whatever is mine. 
If I were released from the ban, in far 

better state should I be, 
My fortune again at the court to follow 

with comfort and ease. 280 



Then Martin replied: I can help you in 
this; it happens that I, 



232 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Just now am departing for Rome, and you 

with some dodges can serve. 
Oppressed will I not let you be! As clerk 

to the bishop, methinks 
I know how the work should be done. I 

surely will see that the dean 
Forthwith shall be cited to Rome, and then 

I against him will fight. 
Mind, uncle, the_ business I'll push, and 

how to direct it I know. 
I'll see that the judgment's enforced ; you 

doubtless through me, will obtain 
Your discharge ; I will fetch it myself, and 

then shall your enemies all 
Laugh the wrong side of their face ; both 

money and pains they shall lose. 
I well understand how matters are managed 

at Rome, and I know 290 
What ought and ought not to be done. 

My uncle, lord Simony's there, 
Well regarded and mighty he is, and help 

gives to all who well pay; 
Sir Pluralist too, such a lord ! Doctor 

Skinflint and others beside ; 



CANTO VIII. 



233 



And Turncoat and Trimmer to boot, I have 

the whole lot for my friends. 
My funds I have sent on ahead, for thus, 

you must know, does one there 
The best of impressions produce. Of cita- 
tions, indeed, they discourse, 
But money alone they desire; and let the 

whole matter be found 
How crooked soever it may, with good pay 

I will straighten it out. 
If money you bring, then grace you'll 

obtain, but let you it lack, 
The doors then against you closed. You 

tranquilly rest here at home ; 300 
Your business I'll take on myself, and 
* loosen its knottiest knots. 
You now go your way to the court, Dame 

Riickenau there you will find, 
My spouse, who is held in the highest 

esteem by our master the king, 
As also she is by the queen. She is 

quick in the use of her wit, 
So tell her the case ; she is wise and 

intercedes gladly for friends ; 



2 34 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Many relatives there you will find. It 
does not, at all times, avail 

The right of a matter to have. Two sis- 
ters with her you will find, 

And three of my children as well, besides 
many more of your race, 

To render you service prepared in whatever 
way you desire. 

And should you your rights be denied, you 
then will some knowledge obtain 310 

Of what I can do; and if you're oppressed, 
let me quickly it know, 

And I'll have the whole land placed under 
the ban, the monarch and all 

Of the women and children and men. An 
interdict I will have sent, 

And no one shall sing any more, nor cele- 
brate mass, nor baptize, 

Nor bury, whatever it be. Take comfort, 
my nephew, in this! 

For aged and sick is the pope; himself he 
no longer concerns 



CANTO VIII. 



235 



With affairs, and is little esteemed. Also 

now at the court of the king 
Has cardinal Querulous absolute power, and 

he is a young 
And a vigorous man, a mettlesome man, 

with a mind of his own. 
He's in love with a woman I know, and 

she him a letter shall take, 320 
And what it may be she demands she 

knows very well how to get; 
And his writer John Faction is there, who 

is most precisely informed 
In coins, whether ancient or new; then 

Jonathan Pry, his compeer, 
Is a gay hanger on of the court; and the 

notary, Slippery Dick, 
A bachelor is of both kinds of law, and if 

he shall remain 
Yet longer a year, then in practical writings 

he perfect will be. 
Beyond these, two judges are there, who 

go by the names of Lovegold 
And Palmitch ; and if they any ruling pro- 
nounce, then as law it remains. 



236 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Thus put into practice in Rome are many 

a prank and a trick 
That knows the pope nothing about. 

Friends must we make for ourselves, 330 
For by them are forgiven our sins, and also 

are persons released 
From the ban. My dearest of uncles, you 

may surely rely upon this! 
For long has the king been aware that I 

will not allow you to fall. 
Your case I will see to its end, and that 

I am able to do: 
He would® also do well to reflect that many 

there are, to the apes 
And the foxes connected by ties, who best 

him with counsel assist ; 
And that will you certainly help, go mat- 
ters however they may. 

Reynard then spake: This comforts me 
much ; I shall bear it in mind, 

Should now I but get myself free. Then 
each of the other took leave. 



CANTO VIII. 



237 



Under safeguard of Grimbart the badger 

alone now Reynard pursued 
His way to the court of the king, where 

bitter against him they felt. 341 



238 REYNARD THE FOX. 

CANTO NINE 

Sir Reynard had come to the court, believing 

that he could avert 
The actions which threatened him there, 

yet as he went in and perceived 
Together his numerous foes, as all stood 

about in the place, 
Each eager himself to avenge, and him to 

see punished with death, 
His courage gave way ; he began to distrust, 

yet boldly he walked 
Right in through the midst of the lords, 

with Grimbart along at his side. 
They came to the throne of the king, and 

Grimbart there whispered and said : 
Now Reynard, give way to no fear; to the 

timid, remember, be sure, 
Will fortune her favors not grant; the 

daring do danger invite, 
And joy in its presence to be ; it helps 

them again to escape. 10 
Reynard said : You tell me the truth, and 

I give you my heartiest thanks 



CANTO IX. 239 

For the splendid support of your words; if 

ever again I get free. 
I shall bear them in mind. He looked 

now around, and many of kin 
Could in the assemblage be seen, yet few 

as supporters to claim. 
Nearly all he was wont to ill-treat; with 

the otters and beavers, indeed, 
Alike both the great and the small, he had 

practiced his villainous tricks; 
Yet discovered he plenty of friends inside 

of the hall of the king. 



In front of the throne he bowed to the 

earth and soberly said : 
May God, from whom nothing is hid, and 

who ever mighty remains, 
Preserve you, my lord and my king, and 

also preserve, none the less, 20 
Our sovereign lady the queen, and jointly 

may he on you both 
Perception and wisdom bestow, so that you 

with discretion may now 



240 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Distinguish the right from the wrong, for 

much of deception there is 
In vogue among men in these days. Thus 

outwardly many things seem 
What, in matter of fact, they are not. 

Had each on his forehead engraved 
What he thinks, and the king should it 

see, it then would be clearly revealed 
That utter untruths I do not, and to serve 

you am always prepared. 
The wicked, I know, do me gravely accuse, 

and would greatly delight 
To disgrace, and out from your favor to 

oust, as if of the same 
I had unworthy been found. But of justice 

I know the strong love 30 
Of my sovereign master and king, for him 

has none ever induced 
The way of the law to obstruct, and thus 

will it ever remain. 



Now all of them came and pressed in, 
and every one there was bewitched 



CANTO IX. 



241 



By Reynard's intrepid display, and him was 

each aching to hear. 
His criminal deeds were all known, how 

then could he think to escape? 

Reynard, you knave, said the king, think 
not any more that your words, 

So glibly pronounced, will you save; no 
longer are they of avail 

To cover deception and lies; your game 
has now come to an end. 

Your faithful devotion to me, you have, I 
believe, well evinced 

On the rabbit as well as the crow ! Suffi- 
cient were that of itself; 40 

But treason you bring into play, whether 
home or abroad you may be, 

Your strokes are malicious and prompt, yet 
not any further will they 

Be endured, your measure is full ; but I 
will no longer reprove. 

Reynard thought: What now can I do? 
Oh, could I again but succeed 



242 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



In getting once more to my home ! But 
where shall I look for the means? 

However it goes, through with it I must. 
Let us everything try. 

. 

Most noble sovereign, mighty king, he began 

to hold forth, 
If you think I have merited death, then 

my case you assuredly have 
Beheld from a wrong point of view; I 

therefore implore that you will 
At least hear me through. Till now I 

have you to your profit advised, 50 
In need I have stood at your side, when 

some, as you know, fell away, 
Who between us are pushing themselves, 

my ruin to try to effect, 
And their chances improve while I am 

away. With them you might well, 
Noble king, when I have to speak been 

allowed, the matter adjust. 
After that, if guilty I'm found, my fate I 

of course must endure. 



CANTO IX. 



243 



But little of me have you thought, while I, 
all over the land, 

In different places about, have the closest 
of watches maintained. 

Think you that I now should come to the 
court, if I myself knew 

To be guilty of great or e'en little mis- 
deeds? With prudence I should 

Have fled from the place where you are, 
and my enemies tried to avoid. 60 

No indeed, from my stronghold at home, 
most assuredly would 

Not all the world's gold have me here been 
able to tempt, for I there 

Was free on my own ground and soil. 
But in fact I no consciousness have 

Of one evil deed that I've done, so here 
my appearance have made. 

I was staying for nought but to watch ; 
there brought me my uncle the news 

That I was required at the court. I had 
just been thinking afresh 

How might I get rid of the ban, and there- 
over, with Martin the ape, 



244 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Much converse have recently had, who 

sacredly promised he would 
From the incubus get me set free. I, 

myself, am in transit to Rome, 
He remarked, and from now to its end the 

matter I fully will take 70 
On myself ; go you to the court and you 

shall get rid of the ban. 
Lo! thus me did Martin advise, and what 

he's about he must know, 
For the eminent bishop, lord Waver, him 

constantly has in employ; 
For fully five years has Martin him served 

in judicial affairs. 
And thus come I here to your court, com- 
plaint on complaint but to find. 
The coney backbites me, the toad; now 

Reynard, however, is here 
In person himself, so let him come forward 

and speak to my face; 
For indeed 'tis an easy affair complaints of 

the absent to bring; 
But the opposite side must be heard, ere 

the matter to judgment shall come. 



CANTO IX. 



245 



Those treacherous comrades of mine ! By 

all that is holy, they have 80 
Themselves well enjoyed at my hands, the 

rabbit as well as the crow. 
The day before yesterday morn, ere the 

sun had got up, I was met 
By the rabbit, who greeted me fair; at 

that very moment myself 
I in front of my castle had placed, for 

reading the prayers of the day; 
He made me aware that he was en route 

to the court; then I said: 
May God you attend ! At this he com- 
plained of how hungry and tired 
He had grown. Then friendly I asked: 

Desire you not something to eat? 
With thankfulness I will accept, he replied. 

I said in response : 
I will gladly it give. So I went with him 

in and, quick as could be, 
I cherries and butter produced; for on 

Wednesdays I never eat meat. 90 
And he ate, to his heart's content, of bread 

and of butter and fruits. 



246 REYNARD THE FOX. 

But now the last born of my sons stepped 

up to the table, to see 
If anything over remained, for children do 

always love food. 
At something the lad made a grab, when 

the rabbit him gave such a blow, 
With suddenness over his mouth, that from 

lips and from teeth ran the blood. 
Now Reinhart, my other young son, saw 

the blow and the hypocrite seized 
Direct by the throat, played well his own 

game, and his brother avenged. 
That happened ; not more and not less. I 

tarried not long from the spot, 
But ran and chastised the two boys, and 

managed with trouble them both 
Away from the rabbit to get. His punish- 
ment let him endure, 100 
For he merited more than he got, and the 

youngsters could well, I am sure, 
Had I any evil desired, have thoroughly 

finished him up. 
And thus he now gives me his thanks! 

He says that I pulled off his ear; 



CANTO IX. 



247 



Yet he was with honor received, a token 
of which he has kept. 

To me, after this, came the crow, and his 

lamentation poured forth ; 
His wife he had lost, who had eaten 

too much and herself had thus killed, 
For a fish of a passable size, with all of its 

bones, she had gulped. 
As to where the misfortune occurred, that 

he can best tell; but he says 
That I have her slain. I'll wager he did 

it himself, and if he 
Were earnestly asked if I had it done, his 

tune he would change. 110 
Crows fly up too far in the air, no 

jump can attain such a height. 

If any one wish to accuse me of actions 

forbidden like these, 
Let him do it with evidence lawful and 

just, for thus is it fit 



248 REYNARD THE FOX. 

To prosecute worshipful men ; this ought I 

at least to expect. 
But if none of this kind can be found, yet 

another resource is at hand; 
Here ! I am prepared for a tilt ! Let the 

day be appointed and place, 
Then let an opponent of worth himself 

introduce in the list, 
With me a full equal by birth, then each 

can proceed with his claim ; 
Who honor shall gain in the strife, with 

him let it ever remain; 
Things always have thus been set right, 

and I nothing better demand. 120 

All stood there and heard what he said, 

and everyone at the words 
Of Reynard was greatly surprised, which he 

had so boldly pronounced. 
And as to the rabbit and crow, they both 

were confounded with fright; 
They quitted the court and ventured not 

further to utter a word; 



CANTO IX. 



249 



But each to the other remarked: 'Twould 

not quite advisable be 
With him any more to dispute ; all means 

that we know we might try, 
And then not be near to success. Who is 

there that saw what he did? 
Alone with the rascal we were, for witness 

then whom could we get? 
After all the disgrace would be ours. For 

all of his numberless crimes 
May the hangman upon him await, and 

pay him as he has deserved! 130 
He would like us in combat to meet? 

That might with us badly turn out. 
No, in truth ! that's a thing we would rather 

avoid; for nimble and false, 
Deceitful and base, we know him to be. 

Indeed we, all five, 
Should not against him be enough, and 

dearly therefor should we pay. 

But Bruin and Isengrim both were ill at 
their ease; they observed, 



2 50 REYNARD THE FOX. 

With annoyance, the two sneak away from 
the place. The monarch then said: 

If any one yet has complaint, let him come! 
We will hear what it is. 

So many but yesterday blamed, here stands 
the accused! Where are they? 

Quoth Reynard at this : Thus it commonly 

goes; either this one or that 
Is impeached, yet, when he comes, here his 

accusers remain at their homes. 140 
These two little mischievous rogues, the 

rabbit and likewise the crow, 
Would gladly have brought me to shame, 

and damage and punishment too. 
But now they apologies make, and I them 

forgive ; for, indeed, 
They hesitate, now that I'm here, and slip 

aside out of the way. 
How I should have made them ashamed! 

You see how with danger 'tis fraught, 
Your ear to the wretched defamers of 

servants not present to lend. 



CANTO IX. 



2 5 I 



The law they do naught but pervert, and 

are hateful to all of true worth. 
For the rest only pity I feel, and care 
not about them a straw. 

Attend ! said the king upon this, you traitor 

malicious and mean ! 
Pray tell us what urged you to this, that 

Lampen, the trusted and true, 150 
Who used my despatches to bear, you killed 

in so shameful a way? 
Had I not forgiven you all, so far as you 

ever had sinned? 
From me you received both a wallet and 

staff, thus provided you were 
For a journey to Rome and over the sea; 

you nothing I grudged, 
And hoped for amendment from you ; but 

now I find out, at the start, 
How Lampen of life you deprived, and 

Bellyn as messenger made 
You to serve, to bring in the knapsack his 

head; and who, when he came, 



2 52 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Said out, before all, that despatches he 

brought, which together had you 
Indited and penned; and you, to the best 

of his power, he had helped; 
And I found in the knapsack the head, no 

more and no less than the head. 160 
This was done in defiance of me, and Bel- 

lyn at once I retained 
As a pledge, his life was the price, and 

now we will see about yours. 

Reynard said: What's this that I hear? 
Lampen is killed? And I find 

My Bellyn no more? What of me will 
become? Oh, dead that I were! 

Ah me! With them I have lost a trea- 
sure unequalled in worth. 

I sent you some jewels by them, none better 
nor finer than which, 

All over the world, can be found. Who 
could have believed that the ram 

Would Lampen have murdered like this, 
and you of those riches have robbed? 



CANTO IX. 



253 



One must be on one's guard, even when 
no suspicion of danger exists. 

In fury, trie king would not hear the whole 

of what Reynard would say; 170 
To his chamber he turned himself off, not 

having with clearness, indeed, 
Reynard's words understood ; and him he 

intended to punish with death. 
And, as soon as he came to his room, he 

found in his presence the queen, 
Who there, with dame Ruckenau, stood. 

Now the ape was especially dear 
To king, as well as to queen, which useful 

to Reynard would be. 
Accomplished and prudent she was, and 

very proficient in speech ; 
Where'er she appeared, a sensation she 

made, and was honored by all. 
The king's indignation she saw, and to 

him circumspectly she said: 
When you, gracious master and king, have 

hearkened at times to my suit, 



2 54 REYNARD THE FOX. 

No cause have you had for regret; you 
always my boldness condoned 180 

In speaking a quieting word when some- 
thing your anger had roused. 

At present be likewise disposed to listen 
to me; it concerns 

My own proper race, of a truth! And 
who can one's own disavow? 

Now Reynard, whate'er he may be, is a 
kinsman of mine, and if I 

Shall frankly confess how his conduct 
appears unto me, I must say, 

Since now to the law he submits, I think 
very well of his case. 

His father, like him, was compelled, not- 
withstanding the favor of yours, 

Much evil from venomous tongues and per- 
jured accusers to bear; 

Yet always he put them to shame. So 
soon as more closely his case 

Was examined, quite clear it became; but 
yet did the envious knaves 190 

Try even his merits to make as heinous 
transgressions appear. 



"Now Reynard, whate'er tie may be, is a kinsman of mine." 



CANTO IX. 255 

Thus ever himself he maintained in greater 
esteem at the court 

Than Bruin and Isengrim now; indeed, 
'twere of these to be wished 

That they should be able to cast the griev- 
ances all on one side, 

That are constantly heard about them ; but 
little do they apprehend 

Of justice and right, as is shown by their 
counsel as well as their life. 

Here answered, however, the king: But 

how can it cause you surprise, 
That I am with Reynard provoked? The 

thief who, a short time ago, 
Put Lampen to death, led Bellyn astray, 

and with insolence now 
All flatly denies, and himself, as a servant 

straightforward and true, 200 
Has boldness enough to extol ! In the 

meantime do all as one man 
Raise with loud voices complaints, and only 

too clearly show forth 



256 REYNARD THE FOX. 

How he my safe-conduct defies, and also 

how he, with his thefts, 
His robbings and murders, the land and my 

faithful retainers despoils. 
Indeed, I'll no longer it bear! In answer 

thereto said the ape : 
In truth not to many is granted the gift, 

in things of all kinds, 
To act with discretion and counsel with 

skill, and he who succeeds 
Will certainly confidence earn but the en- 
vious try all they can 
To covertly do him a hurt; and, soon as 

their numbers increase, 
They openly mak # e their attempts. With 

Reynard it often has thus 210 
Of yore come about; they cannot, however, 

efface from our minds 
How he has you wisely advised in cases 

where others were dumb. 
You know (it but lately took place) how the 

man and the serpent came here 
To solicit your aid, and the case there was 

none who knew how to decide ; 



CANTO IX. 



257 



But Reynard discovered a way, and you 
lauded him then before all. 

To this did the monarch rejoin, after brief 

meditation, thereon: 
I remember the matter quite well, yet now 

it has gone from my mind 
How in detail it all came about; it was 

somewhat entangled, methinks. 
If you can still say how it was, I gladly 

shall hear your account. 
She answered the king : As my lord has 

commanded so shall it be done. 220 

Just two years ago or about, a dragon 

appeared and complained, 
With turmoil, to you, gracious lord, that a 

peasant could not be induced 
Himself to submit to the law; a man against 

whom the decree 
Had twice been pronounced. To the court of 

your highness the peasant she brought, 



258 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



And stated the matter at length, with 
numerous violent words. 

Through a hole, that she found in a hedge, 

the serpent intended to crawl, 
But got herself caught in a cord, that in 

front of the breach had been hung; 
Ever tighter was getting the loop, and there 

she her life would have lost, 
Had not, at the opportune time, a vagrant 

been passing along. 
In N anguish to him she cried out: Have 

pity and help me get free, 230 
I entreat! To this the man said: Released, 

I will see that you are, 
For your misery causes me grief ; but first 

you must give me your word, 
No mischief on me to inflict. The serpent 

agreed to his terms, 
And swore the most solemn of oaths that 

she, in no manner or way, 
"Would harm to her rescuer do, and thus 

did the man set her free. 



CANTO IX. 259 

Awhile on together they walked; but the 

serpent was feeling, at length, 
The gnawings of hunger, and flew at the 

man, with intent him to choke 
And devour; and in fear and alarm the 

poor fellow sprang from her side. 
Is this my reward? This have I deserved? 

he cried, and did you 
Not swear the most sacred of oaths? The 

serpent then said in reply: 240 
My hunger impels me, alas ! I have no 

control of myself ; 
No law does necessity know; it constitutes 

right of itself. 

In turn then responded the man : Keep off 

from me only so long 
As we to some people may come, who us 

will impartially judge. 
And thereupon answered the worm : Till 

then I will patience preserve. 

Thus further a distance they went, and 
over the water they found 



26o 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Cutpurse, the raven, along with his son, 

who Croker was called; 
And the serpent invited them both to draw 

near, and thus them invoked: 
Come here, we have something to say. 

The raven them soberly heard, 
And judgment at once he pronounced, the 

man to ingest. Thus he hoped 250 
A morsel to get for himself. Much pleased 

was the serpent at this; 
Lo! now I have triumphed, she said, and 

none can the blame lay on me. 
Not so, then responded the man, my case 

is not utterly lost; 
Shall a robber pass sentence of death, or 

one judge alone try the case? 
I demand that it further be heard, as equity 

me doth allow ; 
By four, or by ten if you please, let the 

matter be brought to be heard. 

The serpent then said: Let us go. They 
went, and were met, on the road, 



CANTO IX*. 26l 

By the wolf and the bear, and together 

they all of them walked. 
The peasant now everything feared ; for him 

in the midst 0: the five 
It dangerous was to remain, seeing what 

kind of fellows they were. 260 
The serpent, the ravens, the wolf, and the 

bear hemmed him in all around: 
And anxious enough he became, for soon 

did the wolf and the bear 
Make up both together their minds, in this 

way their judgment to give : 
The serpent might slaughter the man. as a 

ravenous craving for food 
Acknowledged no maxim or law: one's 

needs would absolve from an oath. 
Now fear and concern on the traveller 

seized, for they all in accord 
Were after his life. Then the serpent rlew 

out with a furious hiss, 
Spitting upon him her spleen, ^nd in terror 

he sprang to one side. 
Great wrong, he exclaimed, you commit : 

who you has seen fit t: ass'lsm, 



262 REYNARD THE FOX. 

As master and lord of my life? You heard 

what was said, she replied, 270 
Decided the judges have twice, and as often 

your case you have lost. 
To her then responded the man: They 

plunder and pilfer, themselves; 
I acknowledge them not in the least, the 

case we will take to the king; 
When he speaks, . I'll submit to his words, 

and if I the loser come out, 
In bad enough plight shall I be; I will 

it, however, endure. 
The wolf and the bear then mockingly 

said: This plan you can try; 
The serpent will certainly win, and better 

can she nothing wish. 
They thought that the lords of the court, in 

session, would surely decide 
As had they; and they went in good cheer, 

the peasant escorting along. 
Before you they came, the serpent, the 

ravens, the wolf, and the bear; 280 
Yea, a triplet of wolves was disclosed, for 

two of his children he brought; 



CANTO IX. 



263 



Allbelly was one of them called, and Glutton 

the other. These two 
Most trouble occasioned the man ; for with 

the intent had they come 
Their own proper share to consume, for 

ever rapacious they are. 
With rudeness unbearable then, before you 

they bellowed and howled, 
Until you expelled from the court both of 

the ill-mannered churls. 
Then the man to your mercy appealed, and 

proceeded his tale to relate : 
How to kill him the serpent had thought; 

and how she his generous act 
Had forgotten, and broken her oath ; so 

safety he sought at your hands. 
And the snake contradicted him not: My 

hunger's omnipotent need, 290 
Which knows not the meaning of law, 

irresistibly me did compel. 

Good lord, you were greatly perplexed ; the 
matter in hand to you seemed 



264 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



To the brim with suspicion to be, and judi- 
cially hard to decide ; 
For to you very harsh it appeared, the 

kind-hearted man to condemn, 
Who himself had beneficent shown; on the 

other hand still, you bethought 
Of the mischievous hunger as well; you 

therefore the council convoked. 
Alas! the opinion of most the claim of the 

man was against, 
For they had an eye to the feast, and 

thought they the serpent would help. 
But heralds to Reynard you sent, for all 

of the others, indeed, 
Uttered more words than enough, yet the 

case could not rightly resolve. 300 
Reynard came and the evidence heard; to 

him the decision you left; 
As he on the matter should rule, even so 

should the law be enforced. 

Reynard, with prudence, then said: It need- 
ful I find, before all, 



CANTO IX. 



265 



Myself to betake to the place, that the 

snake in her bonds I may see, 
Just as the peasant her found; after that, 

my decision I'll give. 
The serpent was bound then afresh in the 

self-same position and way 
As across her the peasant had come, when 

her in the hedge he had found. 



When this had been done, Reynard said: 
Here now we find each of the two 

In former condition again, not either has 
won or has lost; 

Yet the right is made perfectly plain, as 
seems it to me, of itself; 310 

For, provided the man shall see fit, he now 
can the serpent once more 

Release from her place in the cord; if not, 
he can there let her hang; 

He free and with honor can go, his busi- 
ness to seek and transact. 

Since she so untrue has become, when his 
kindness she deigned to accept, 



266 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



The man has now fairly the choice; to me 

that appears the intent 
Of the law; who it better conceives, may 

now let us hear what it is. 

The verdict was pleasing to you, and all of 

your council as well; 
Reynard was eulogised, much; you were 

thanked by the peasant; and all 
The wisdom of Reynard extolled; the queen 

also praised him herself. 
Much talk there was made at the time, how 

formerly you had, in war, 320 
Both Bruin and Isengrim used; and how, far 

and wide, they were feared, 
For always were they to be found where 

plenty there was to devour. 
Burly and daring and strong, none could 

deny that they were, 
Yet often in counsel was felt the lack of 

some much needed sense, 
For they are accustomed too much on phy- 
sical force to rely. 



CANTO IX. 



267 



When work in the field is approached, 

much lameness and halting there is. 
Bolder can one not appear, than show they 

themselves when at home ; 
Outside they are ready in ambush to lie ; 

but, if once are exchanged 
Sturdy blows, they then will be found neither 

better nor worse than the next. 
The bears and the wolves destroy the 

whole land, and little they care 330 
Whose house is consumed by the flames. 

They ever accustom themselves 
To go and get warm at the coals, and 

pity for none do they feel, 
If only their maws they can fill. The eggs 

they all swallow themselves, 
And leave but the shells to the poor, and 

think such division is fair. 
On the other hand Reynard, the fox, and 

all of his race comprehend 
What wisdom and counsel imply ; and, if 

now he has done something wrong, 
Gracious lord, yet is he no stick. Be sure 

that no other will you 



268 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Ever give any better advice. For this, 
grant him pardon, I beg. 

To this then responded the king: Upon it* 

I'll think. The decree 
Was given as you have described; the 

serpent the penalty paid. 340 
Yet remains he a scamp, every inch, without 

any chance to reform. 
If a compact with him should be made, 

deception at last will result, 
For in proving that black is but white, 

who is there can match him in skill? 
The wolf and the bear and the cat, the 

rabbit and even the crow, 
Are not for him agile enough, he brings 

them to shame and disgrace; 
From this one he snatches an ear, from 

another he tears out an eye, 
And a third he deprives of his life. I 

certainly cannot conceive 
How you can thus favor the scamp, and 

speak in defence of his acts. 



CANTO IX. 



269 



Gracious lord, then responded the ape, it 
impossible is to deny 

That his race is exalted and great. There- 
on it is well to reflect. 350 

Then up rose the king to go out, and all 

of those who were there, 
In a body awaiting him stood. In the 

circle thus formed he observed 
A number to Reynard most closely allied 

who all had arrived 
Their kinsman to shield and protect ; so 

many to name would be hard. 
And he the great family saw; he then, on 

the other side, saw 
The enemies Reynard had made ; divided it 

seemed was the court. 

In this way the monarch began : Give ear 

to me, Reynard! Can you 
An excuse for such wickedness find, as, with 

Bellyn's assistance, to put 



370 REYNARD THE FOX. 

My innocent Lampen to death and, in your 

audacity, too, 
His head in the wallet to thrust, as if to 

me letters you sent? 360 
To mock me that deed you performed; I 

have punished already the one, 
The penalty Bellyn has paid, and you may 

the same now expect. 

Ah, me ! answered Reynard thereto ; oh, 
would that I also were dead! 

Pray hearken to me, and then you can do 
as the case may demand. 

If guilty, then slay me at once ; I shall 
never, however, get free 

From my burden of grief and distress; for- 
lorn I must always remain. 

For Bellyn the traitor's purloined the choic- 
est of treasures from me, 

The equal of which never yet has mortal 
his eyes set upon. 

Ah, life to poor Lampen they've cost! 
These treasures I had to them both 



CANTO IX. 



271 



Committed in charge; now Bellyn has stolen 
the costly effects. 370 

But let them yet further be sought; how- 
ever, I very much fear 

That none will e'er find them again ; they'll 
rest for eternity lost. 



To this did the monkey reply: Why give 

you thus way to despair? 
Be they but on top of the ground, to 

recover them yet there is hope; 
Both early and late will we go, and of 

laymen and clerics with zeal 
Will enquire. But first let us know, of 

what did the treasures consist? 



Reynard said: So precious they were, that 
ne'er can we find them again. 

Who possesses them now will guard them 
with care. How much at the loss 

Will my wife, dame Ermelyn, grieve! She 
will never forgive me for this, 



272 REYNARD THE FOX. 

For me she tried hard to dissuade from 

entrusting such riches to them. 380 
Now lies are against me trumped up, and 

I am most basely accused; 
But still I my rights will defend, and the 

issue await; and if then 
Acquitted I am, I will travel about through 

kingdoms and lands, 
And endeavor the treasures to find, even 

though it shall cost me my life. 384 



CANTO X. 



273 



CANTO TEN 

My king, furthermore said the fox, that 

villain so crafty in speech, 
Permit me, illustrious prince, in the ears of 

my friends to relate 
What comprised all the sumptuous things 

that I had transmitted to you ; 
Though them you may not have received, 

yet laudable was my intent. 
Go ahead then, responded the king, and 

whatever you say, make it short. 



Well-being and honor are lost! And every- 
thing now you shall learn, 

Said Reynard, with sadness of tone. The 
first of the beautiful gems 

Was a ring, which to Bellyn I gave, and 
he should the same to the king 

Have brought and surrendered from me. 
In a most unaccountable way 

This ring was designed and composed, and 
worthy it was in the wealth 10 



274 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Of my sovereign's treasure to shine, being 
made of the finest of gold. 

On the innermost side of this gem, that 
next to the finger would be, 

Were letters engraved to be seen, enamelled 
in blue and in black ; 

Three Hebrew cognomens they formed, of 
significance special and great; 

And none in this land could explain what 
meaning lay hidden therein ; 

Master Abrion only, of Treves, could deci- 
pher the symbols for me. 

Now he is an erudite Jew, and every lan- 
guage and tongue 

He knows, that is spoken by man from 
Liineberg unto Poitou ; 

And is also especially skilled in the virtues 
of herbs and of stones. 

When placed I before him the ring, he said 
that most precious of things 20 

Were hidden within its embrace ; that the 
names, which therein were engraved, 



CANTO X. 



Were carried by Seth, the devout, from 

Paradise down to the earth, 
When the oil of compassion he sought; and 

who on his finger it wears, 
Finds free from all dangers himself; not 

thunder nor lightning nor all 
The mage's enchantments can hurt, while 

this on his person he keeps. 
And further the master observed that, at 

some time or other, he'd read 
That who kept on his finger the ring, could 

not, in the fiercest of cold, 
Be frozen to death, but would certainly live 

to a peaceful old age. 
Outside it a gem had been set, a carbuncle 

brilliant and clear, 
Which glistened so brightly at night, that 

things could be seen as by day. 30 
Many virtues belonged to this stone: all 

kinds of diseases it healed ; 
Who came into contact therewith, was 

exempt from all want and distress; 
Death was the only thing it had not the 

power to subdue. 



276 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Still further the master disclosed the magni- 
ficent gifts of the stone; 

Its owner in safety can go throughout all 
the lands of the earth; 

Neither water nor fire can him hurt ; im- 
prisoned, or even betrayed, 

He never can be, and from all the assaults 
of a foe he escapes. 

If, fasting, he looks on the stone, in battle 
he certainly will 

A hundred and more overcome ; by the 
potency too of the stone, 

Is the action of poisons annulled, and 
malignant secretions as well. 40 

So also it hatred destroys ; how many soever 
there be, 

Who do its possessor not love, they shortly 
a change undergo. 

But who could enumerate all the virtues 

and powers of the stone, 
That I found in my father's reserve, and 

I, to my master, the king, 



CANTO X. 



277 



Now thought in all safety to send? For 

of such a magnificent ring 
I worthy was not; I knew it right well; it 

ought to belong, 
I thought, to the one who, of right, is held 

as the noblest of all. 
On him, and none other, depend our welfare 

and property both ; 
And I cherished the hope that his life I 

might from all evil protect. 



Moreover was Bellyn, the ram, in addition 

thereto, to the queen, 50 
A mirror and comb to present, to keep in 

remembrance of me. 
These both had I once, out of sport, from 

my father's collection removed, 
And not on the face of the earth could a 

work of art finer be found. 
How oft has endeavored my wife them both 

to obtain for herself! 
For nothing so much did she long, of all 

that there is in the world ; 



278 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



And about them contentions we had, but 

my purpose she never could change. 
At length both the mirror and comb, with 

best of intention, I sent 
To my gracious lady, the queen, who 

always and ever to me 
The utmost of favor has shown, and 

shielded from harm of all kinds. 
She often has spoken for me a mild and 

benevolent word ; 60 
She is noble, exalted in birth, by virtue 

enrobed and adorned, 
And her ancient descent is proclaimed by 

actions as well as by words. 
She was worthy the mirror and comb, on 

which, to my sorrow and shame, 
She has not been allowed to set eyes. For 

ever, alas, they are lost! 

Now to say a few words of the comb : 
The artist, this comb to construct, 

Had the bones of a panther employed, a 
glorious creature's remains, 



CANTO X. 



279 



Whose place of abode is the land from 
Paradise unto the Ind. 

All species of colors are shown in its skin, 
and the sweetest of scents 

Are thence given out, wherever it turns; 
and thus do the beasts 

Instinctively follow its tracks, wherever it 
be that it goes ; 70 

For healthy they grow from this scent and, 
without an exception, they all 

Are imbued with a knowledge of this. Of 
sinews and bones such as these 

Was the beautiful comb, that I sent, con- 
structed with wonderful skill ; 

Like silver in whiteness and gleam, of 
ineffable purity too ; 

And better, by far, was its scent than cin- 
namon even and cloves. 

When the animal passes from life, the aroma 
goes into its bones, 

Remains everlastingly there, and always them 
keeps from decay ; 

It drives all distempers away, and against 
all the poisons is proof. 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Again, on the back of the comb could 

excellent pictures be seen, 
Quite high in relief, with delicate tendrils of 

gold interlaced, 80 
And lazuli, azure and gules. In the middle- 
most part of the field 
Was the story insculptured with art, how 

Priam's son, Paris of Troy, 
Was sitting one day at a brook, and three 

women, seraphic and fair, 
Before him he saw, who Pallas and Juno 

and Venus were called. 
In strife they had long been engaged, for 

each of them wished to possess 
An apple that, up to this time, conjointly 

to them had belonged. 
At length an agreement was made, that 

Paris this apple of gold 
Should on the most lovely bestow, and she 

should alone it retain. 

The youth regarded them all with the 
greatest attention and care. 



CANTO X. 



28l 



Now Juno remarked: If the apple I get, 

and if me you adjudge 90 
The fairest to be, you the richest of all in 

the world shall become. 
And Minerva rejoined: Deliberate well, and 

the apple give me ; 
Then you the most potent of men shall 

become, and dreaded by all 
Wherever your name may be known, alike 

by your friends and your foes. 
Venus spake: What want you with power? 

And riches, what good will they do? 
Are you not the ransomed one's son? And 

as to your brothers, are they, 
Hector and all of the rest, not wealthy and 

strong in the land? 
Is Troy not secured by its hosts, and I 

also may ask if you have 
Not conquered the land round about, as well 

as more far away folk? 
If me you the fairest pronounce, and the 

apple confer upon me, 100 
You then shall have cause to rejoice in a 

treasure the greatest on earth. 



282 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



This prize is an excellent wife, of women 

the fairest of all, 
So virtuous, noble, and wise, that none can 

too highly her praise. 
Give the apple to me, and you shall the 

wife of the king of the Greeks, 
The beautiful Helen I mean, that treasure 

of treasures, possess. 

Then gave he the apple to her, and 
adjudged her the fairest of all. 

And she aided him, in return, to elope with 
the beautiful queen, 

The great Menelaus's wife, whom he had 
in Troy for his own. 

This story was seen in relief, in the mid- 
dlemost part of the field; 

And all round about it were shields, with 
writings insculptured with art; no 

And only had one them to read, the gist 
of the fable to know. 

Of the mirror I further will speak; in 
lieu of a surface of glass, 



CANTO X. 



283 



A reflector of beryl was used, of wonderful 

beauty and sheen ; 
All things thereupon were revealed, even 

though a mile off they occurred, 
Were it either by day or by night. And 

if, in one's face, there should be 
A blemish, whatever it was, if naught but a 

fleck in the eye, 
Should one in the mirror but look, from 

that very instant there fled 
Imperfections away of all kinds, and every 

extrinsic defect. 
Can you marvel that I am sore grieved at 

having the mirror thus lost? 
For setting the plate was employed the 

costliest wood to be found, 120 
Which shittim is called, so named from its 

solid and glittering growth ; 
It is never infected by worms, and also, in 

justice, it is 
More highly regarded than gold, with ebony 

only as next. 
There once out of this was contrived, by an 

artist of skill and renown, 



284 REYNARD THE FOX. 

In the time of Krompardus the king, a 

horse of remarkable powers, 
Which its rider, in less than an hour, could 

take for a hundred good miles. 
I find it impossible now to tell all there is 

to be told, 

For not such a steed has been known, so 
long as the world has endured. 

For the space of a foot and a half, entirely 

around, was the frame, 
Of the mirror embellished with work, all 

carved in the best style of art; 130 
And in letters of gold could be seen, under 

each of the pictures inscribed, 
The meaning and purport thereof ; and I 

will these stories to you 
Concisely relate. The first was regarding 

the envious horse, 
Who thought that he would, for a bet, 

compete in a run with a stag, 
But was left far behind in the race, which 

gave him inordinate pain ; 



CANTO X. 



28 5 



And a speedy occasion he took with a 

shepherd about it to talk. 
He said: It shall profit you much, if me 

you will quickly obey ; 
If you mount, I will give you a ride ; there 

has, but a short time ago, 
A stag hid himself in the wood, and him 

you shall surely obtain ; 
His flesh and his antlers and skin you can 

sell at a very high price; 140 
Get up, and we will him pursue. All 

right ! I am ready to go, 
Said the rustic, and sprang on his back. 

They galloped away from the place, 
And shortly got sight of the stag ; then 

followed they on at full speed 
In his track, and gave him pursuit. But 

the stag was the lighter of foot, 
And the pace was too much for the horse, 

who finally said to the man : 
Get down for a while, I am tired, and greatly 

have need of some rest. 
No thank you, responded the man, you now 

will have me to obey, 



1 



286 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And my spur you shall feel in your flank, 

for me you invited yourself 
To get on your back for a ride; and thus 

him the rider subdued. 
Lo! thus with much ill is repaid the one 

who doth others design 150 
To lead into harm ; himself he but loads 

with evil and pain. 

I now will still further explain what yet 

on the mirror was shown ; 
How together an ass and a dog into 

service with Dives had gone. 
The dog had, without any doubt, the pet of 

his master become, 
For he sat at his table at meals, and par- 
took of the food that was served ; 
And was also permitted to snuggle and rest 

in his guardian's lap, 
Who him was accustomed to feed with the 

finest of bread; in return, 
The dog was incessantly licking his master, 

and wagging his tail. 



CANTO X. 



287 



Now Baldwin observed the good luck of 

the dog and, grieving at heart, 
The donkey then said to himself : Oh, 

why does my master incline 160 
That indolent creature to treat in a way so 

excessively kind? 
Upon him the animal springs and licks him 

all over his beard, 
While I must the labor perform, and to 

carry the sacks am compelled. 
Just let him make trial but once, and see 

if, with five or with ten 
Dogs, as much in a year he can do, as I 

can get done in a month. 
Yet the best is provided for him, while I 

have to feed upon straw, 
And on the hard ground must repose ; and, 

wherever it be that they drive 
Me or ride, I am scoffed at and mocked. 

I can, and I will, such abuse 
No longer endure ; my master's affection I 

too will acquire. 



288 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Now just as he ended this speech, his 
master appeared in the street. 170 

The donkey erected his tail and kicked up 
his heels ; with a spring 

At his master he leaped, braying and sing- 
ing and blaring with might; 

Licked his beard and displayed a desire, in 
the manner and way of a dog, 

To nestle up close to his cheeks, and 
bruised him somewhat with his kicks. 

In terror his master ran off, and cried : 
Oh, catch me the ass! 

Strike him dead ! His servants then came, 
and thickly upon him fell blows. 

Him into his stable they drove, and there 
he a donkey remains. 



There many are still to be met, of the 
selfsame assinine breed, 

Who the welfare of others begrudge, with- 
out doing good to themselves. 

However, should any such one to a state of 
great riches attain, 180 



CANTO X. 



289 



At once he resembles a pig, who should try 

to eat soup with a spoon ; 
Not very much better, in truth. The 

donkey let carry the sacks, 
Have nothing but straw for his bed, and 

find among thistles his food. 
If one shall him otherwise treat, he will 

still ever be as of old. 
When an ass to dominion attains, it can 

meet with but little success ; 
His welfare he seeks to advance, and what 

beyond this does he care? 



My king, there is more you should know, 

and at the recital I beg 
That you take not offence ; on the frame 

of the mirror could also be seen, 
Well fashioned and clearly described, how 

my father did, once on a time, 
Himself with our Tybert engage upon some 

adventures to go; 190 
And how they both sacredly swore that, in 

all kinds of danger, they would 



29O REYNARD THE FOX. 

One another with valor stipport, and all of 

their booty divide. 
As forward they went on their way, they 

noticed some hunters and hounds, 
Not very far off from the road; and Tybert, 

the cat, then remarked : 
Good counsel seems costly to get! To 

this did my pater respond : 
Though odd it may very well seem, yet 

with excellent counsel have I 
My pocket already made full ; and we must 

remember our oath, 
Together to steadfastly hold ; of all, most 

important is that. 
On the other hand, Tybert replied : However 

the thing may turn out, 
There remains yet a means to me known, 

and that I intend to employ. 200 
And thus up a tree he with liveliness 

sprang, in order to save 
Himself from the rage of the dogs; and 

thus he his uncle forsook. 
In terror my father stood there, and the 

hunters were coming apace. 



CANTO X. 



29I 



Quoth Tybert: Now, uncle, how goes it 

with you? Throw open the sack. 
Of counsel it's full, make use of it now, 

for your time has arrived. 
The huntsmen sounded their horns, and one 

to another they called; 
My father then ran, so also the hounds; 

they followed with yelps, 
And he sweated all over with fear, enriching 

the ground as he went. 
He thus was relieved of some weight, and 

so he escaped from his foes. 

Most basely, as you have just heard, 

deceived him his nearest of kin, 210 
The one whom he trusted the most. His 

life in great jeopardy was, 
For the dogs were swifter than he ; and, 

had he not quickly bethought 
Himself of a hole that he knew, he certainly 

would have been killed ; 
But he slipped himself nimbly within, and 

thus to his foes he was lost. 



292 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Many more of such fellows there are, as 
Tybert was then, to his shame, 

To my father so clearly revealed ; how 
could 1 him honor and love? 

I have it half pardoned indeed, yet some- 
thing still rankles behind. 

This all on the mirror was carved, with 
pictures and writings thereon. 

In addition to this was displayed an accu- 
rate scene of the wolf; 
Showing what kind of return for favors he's 

ready to give. 220 
He found in a meadow a horse, nothing of 

which but the bones 
Had been left; but ahungered he was, and 

greedily nibbled at these ; 
Till a pointed one stuck in his throat, and 

askew in his gullet got fixed. 
A deplorable figure he cut; for him it had 

badly turned out. 
Runner on runner he sent, the surgeons to 

call to his aid ; 



CANTO X. 



293 



But no one could give him relief, notwith- 
standing gigantic rewards 

He offered to all who should try. The 
crane, in the end, was announced, 

With the red-colored cap on his head, and 
him did the sick one implore: 

Oh, doctor, relieve me at once of the fear- 
ful distress I am in ; 

If the bone you pull out of my throat, I 
will give you whatever you wish. 230 



So trusted the crane in his words, that he 

pluckily stuck in his beak, 
With his head, in the jaws of the wolf, and 

pulled out the bone. 
Oh, dear! howled the wolf, how you hurt! 

you are doing me damage, I know. 
Let it not happen again! For the present, 

I will it forgive. 
Had it been any other than you, I would 

it not patiently bear. 
Be tranquil, responded the crane, for now 

you again are quite well; 



294 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Give me the fee that I've earned ; to you 

I have been of great help. 
Now hark to the fool, said the wolf, 'tis I 

who have suffered the harm, 
Yet he makes a claim for reward, forgetting 

the favor that I, 
This instant, have granted to him. Have I 

not his noddle and beak, 240 
Just now that I had in my mouth, released 

without doing him harm? 
Has the hoyden not given me pain? I had 

very good reason indeed, 
If reward is our subject of talk, to demand 

it myself in advance. 
Thus knaves are accustomed to deal with 

those who them faithfully serve. 

All graven with excellent skill, these stories, 

with others, adorned 
The frame of the mirror all round, with 

many an ornament carved, 
And many inscriptions in gold. Of the 

priceless jewel, myself 



CANTO X. 295 

As unworthy I thought, too ignoble I am, 

and it therefore I sent 
To my sovereign lady, the queen. I was 

hopeful, by means such as this, 
To her and her consort, the king, myself 

reverential to show. 250 
My children were very much grieved, those 

two little well-mannered boys, 
When gave I the mirror away ; to jump 

and to play they were used, 
In front of the glass, where liked they to 

look at themselves and their tails, 
Hanging below from their backs, and laughed 

at their own little mouths. 
Of the trustworthy Lampen, alas! I little 

expected the death, 
When I unto Bellyn and him the treasure, 

in fullness of faith, 
Without reservation consigned, for as honest 

I looked on them both ; 
No better or worthier friends did I think 

that I ever could have. 
Let us woe on the murderer call ! I've made 

up my mind to find out 



296 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Who has the treasures concealed ; no slayer 
shall hidden remain. 260 

More than one in this circle, perhaps, is 
able to give us the name 

Of the spot where these riches were put, 
and tell us how Lampen was slain. 

My beneficent king, I'm aware that daily 

before you are brought 
So many important affairs, that you cannot 

remember them all. 
Yet, haply, you still bear in mind the emi- 
nent service which he, 
My father, once rendered to yours, in the 

place where at present I speak; 
Your father lay sick unto death, and mine 

his life managed to save ; 
And yet you here freely assert that neither 

my father nor I 
To you any good ever did. Be pleased me 

still further to hear; 
And permit me, I beg, to relate how 

always, at your father's court, 270 



CANTO X. 



2 9 7 



Mine was at all times received with honor 

and dignity great, 
As a worthy physician of skill. The patient's 

condition he knew, 
With cleverness, how to inspect; and nature 

could always assist ; 
And whatever was wrong, with eyes or 

aught else, he was able to heal. 
Well knew of emetics the gifts, and more- 
over did well understand 
All matters concerning the teeth, and the 

aching extracted with ease. 
I gladly imagine it's gone from your mind ; 

that would cause no surprise, 
As you then were but three years of age. 

To his bed was your father confined, 
In winter, in exquisite pain, nigh greater 

than he could endure ; 
And he of himself could not move. Then 

all the physicians he had 280 
Convoked between Rome and this place ; 

and they, with unanimous voice, 
Had given him up as past aid. My father 

was summoned at last, 



298 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Who heard all about his distress, and the 
cause of his illness discerned. 

My father lamented it much, and about it 

he said to the king: 
Beneficent master and lord ; I would risk, 

oh, how gladly, my life, 
If yours, in this way, I could save. I wish 

that you me would permit 
Your symptoms to test in a glass. His 

request was allowed by the king, 
Who also complained that the longer they 

waited the worse he became. 
On the mirror was brought into view, how 

now, by good fortune, at once, 
Your father's distemper was cured. For 

mine with discretion remarked: 290 
If health you desire to regain, determine, 

without loss of time, 
From off a wolfs liver to dine ; the wolf, 

however, must be 
Full seven years old at the least, and the 

liver entire you must eat. 



" If health you desire to regain, determine, without loss of time, 
From off a wolf's liver to dine." 



CANTO X. 



299 



You dare not refuse it to do, for your life 

is concerned in the act, 
The glass contains nothing but blood, so 

make up your mind with despatch. 

With those round about was the wolf, 

whom this did no pleasure afford. 
Your father now spoke in this wise : You 

all have heard what is required ! 
Now listen, sir Wolf! That I may get 

well, you will not, I am sure, 
Your liver refuse to give up. To him then 

responded the wolf : 
Not yet am I five years of age; what good 

will my liver effect? 300 
Sheer nonsense, my father replied, we will 

not be obstructed by that ; 
I soon by your liver can tell. The wolf 

was commanded to take 
His place in the kitchen below, and useful 

his liver was found. 
Your father devoured it forthwith and, as 

soon as he swallowed it down, 



300 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Relieved from his sickness he was, and all 

other ailments as well. 
My father profusely he thanked, and all at 

the court were compelled 
Him as Doctor henceforth to address, and 

none should it ever forget. 



My father was constantly now at the right 

of the king to be found. 
To him did your father present, as I most 

reliably know, 
Very shortly, a locket of gold, and also a 

crimson barette, 310 
To wear before all of the lords; and thus, 

from that time until now, 
Have all held him high in esteem. With 

his son, however, have things 
Assumed an unfortunate change; his father's 

great virtues and gifts 
In remembrance no longer are held. The 

most avaricious of knaves 
Are advanced, and all thought is bestowed 

on advantage and gain ; 



CANTO X. 



301 



Wisdom and justice are pushed to the rear, 

and our servants become 
Our most arrogant lords, while the poor, as 

a rule, must suffer for this. 
If such gets dominion and power, he strikes 

out blindly, all round, 
Among all the people he rules, and his 

birth he completely forgets ; 
His profit he seeks to extract from every 

game that is played. 320 
Among the exalted we see not a few such 

as those I've described ; 
To entreaty they never give ear, if donations 

are not to be found 
Profusely connected therewith ; and, if they 

the people instruct, 
It means only pay, no matter the number 

of times, you must pay. 

These covetous wolves ever seek the daintiest 

morsels to keep 
For themselves ; and, had they the means, 

with even the smallest of loss, 



302 REYNARD THE FOX. 

The life of their master to save, about it 

they scruples would have. 
His liver the wolf would not yield, not e'en 

to do good to the king! 
A liver, indeed ! I say it right out ! 

Twenty wolves, of a truth, 
Should be ready to sacrifice life, that the 

king and our idolized queen 330 
Possession of theirs might retain ; much 

smaller the damage would be. 
If a seed be of potency void, what good 

can therefrom be derived? 
The things that occurred in your youth, 

you cannot retrace in your mind; 
But I can remember them well, as though 

they of yesterday were. 
On the mirror the story was told, just as 

my father desired ; 
The work was embellished with gems, and 

garnished with tendrils of gold. 
If I could the mirror but find, I would 

hazard possessions and life. 



CANTO X. 



303 



Reynard, the monarch observed, I have well 

comprehended your speech, 
Have listened to every word of the stories 

that you have rehearsed. 
So great were your father at court, and had 

he so many, forsooth, 340 
Commendable actions performed, that still 

was in years long ago. 
I remember them not in the least, and no 

one has told me thereof ; 
Whereas the transactions of yours are con- 
stantly brought to my ears; 
You are ever at some kind of game, at 

least so I hear it affirmed. 
If injustice is done you in this, and all are 

but fabulous yarns, 
Some good I for once would fain learn ; 

not often to happen this seems. 

My lord, answered Reynard thereto, I now 

shall make bold, about this, 
To explain myself fully to you ; for the 

matter me closely concerns. 



304 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Good service to you I have done ; think 

not, I implore you, that I 
This cast in your teeth! God forbid! I 

know that in duty I'm bound 350 
To obey you so far as I can. One story, 

at least, you have not 
Let utterly slip from your mind: how, with 

Isengrim, I, by good luck, 
A grunter had once hunted down ; it squealed, 

and we bit it to death ; 
You came, making bitter complaint, and said 

that your consort as well 
Was coming, a short way behind; if some 

one would only divide 
With you a small portion of food, of help 

it would be to you both. 
Give us whereof you have caught, was the 

claim that you made of us then. 
And Isengrim said, indeed, yes; yet mut- 
tered he under his beard, 
So that one could him scarce understand. 

But I, on the contrary, said: 
My lord, I would grudge you it not, though 

herds of swine were concerned. 360 



CANTO X. 



30S 



Say, who is the one to divide? The wolf r 

you responded again. 
Now Isengrim greatly rejoiced, and according 

to habit, he shared 
Without any shyness or shame, and gave 

but a quarter to you, 
And your consort a piece of like size, while 

he set to work on the half. 
This greedily swallowed he down and, out- 
side the two skinny ears, 
He offered me nought but the snout and 

just about half of the lights ; 
He kept all the rest for himself, and all 

the transaction you saw. 
Little chivalry showed he us there ; my 

king, you know it quite well ! 
Your portion you quickly devoured, yet I 

noticed, however, that you 
Had your hunger not fully assuaged ; though 

Isengrim would it not see, ■ 370 

But his gnawing and chewing kept up, and 

offered you nothing at all. 
But then you inflicted a blow so hard with 

your claws on his ears, 



306 REYNARD THE FOX. 

That some of his hide was torn off; and 

then, with his bloody bald pate, 
He ran from the place with bumps on his 

head, and howled with the pain. 
And you to the cormorant called : Come 

back, and learn to be shamed! 
When next you divide, deal better with 

me, or I'll know what it means. 
Now make yourself off with all speed, and 

bring something further to eat. 
Sire, order you that? I replied, then fol- 
low him will I at once, 
And I know that I something can fetch ; 

and you were contented with this. 
Most doltishly then did Isengrim act ; he 

bled and he groaned 380 
And murmured to me; yet urged I him on, 

and together we chased 
And caught a young calf, you are fond of 

the food, and when we it brought, 
It proved to be fat; at it heartily laughing, 

you said in my praise 
Full many an affable word ; I should be, 

you imagined, first-rate 



CANTO X. 



307 



To send out at the time of one's need, and 

likewise, still further you said : 
Apportion the calf ! Then quoth I : One 

half is already your own, 
And a half belongs to the queen ; what 

inside the carcase is found, 
As heart, and liver, and lights, belongs, as 

in reason it should, 
To your children ; the feet I will take, 

which to nibble I very much like ; 
And the head may be kept by the wolf, the 

savory meat that it is. 390 



The gist of these words having got, you 
answered : Who, pray, has you taught 

To allot in so courtly a way? That, I 
should like to find out. 

I answered : My teacher is near ; this scamp, 
with the red-colored head, 

And bloody bald pate, has himself the intel- 
ligence opened to me. 

I exactly observed what he did, when the 
porker this morning he carved; 



3 o8 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Then learnt I the meaning to seize, of such 

a division as that ; 
Veal or pork matters not, I shall now find 

it easy and make no mistake. 

With shame and disgrace were the wolf 

and his greed overwhelmed. 
Of his like are enough to be found ! They 

swallow the plentiful fruits 
Of all the estates in the land, as well as 

the vassals thereof. 400 
All, indeed, that is good they destroy, and 

not the least spark of remorse 
Can any one ever expect, and woe to the 

land where they dwell. 

Take notice, my master and king, thus oft 

you in honor I've held. 
All I at this moment possess, or may in 

the future obtain, 
I gladly devote to your use, and that of 

your consort, the queen ; 



CANTO X. 



309 



Be it little or ever so much, the most of 

it all you shall take. 
If you think of the calf and the pig, you 

will see, without shadow of doubt, 
Where faithful allegiance resides. Would 

Isengrim, any way, dare 
With Reynard to measure himself? But 

still, to our sorrow, the wolf 
As chief of your stewards is held, and 

harasses every one. 410 
Not much for your profit cares he ; but 

well he knows how the whole way, 
In promoting his own, to proceed. Thus 

now he with Bruin, indeed, 
Has your majesty's ear, and what Reynard 

may say is but little esteemed. 



My liege, it is true that I'm under a cloud, 

but I will not give way, 
For through with it now I must go ; and 

therefore permit me to say: 
If any one thinks he has proofs, let him 

now with his witnesses come, 



3IO REYNARD THE FOX. 

Himself to the subject confine, and judicially 

pledge, on a bond, 
His goods, or his ear, or his life, in case 

it may be that he lose; 
And I will pledge mine against his. 'Thus 

has it been valid in law, 
From time out of mind; thus let it be 

now, and the whole of the case, 420 
As argued both . for and against, in just 

such a manner can be, 
In honor, conducted and judged. This now 

I make bold to demand. 

However it be, responded the king, from 
justice's path 

I can, and I will, not detract; that is some- 
thing I've never endured. 

Of a truth, the suspicion is strong, that 
particeps criminis you 

In the murder of Lampen became, that 
messenger faithful whom I 

So much loved, and whose loss I deplore; 
grieved beyond measure I was 



CANTO X. 



When drawn was his blood-covered head 
from the wallet I'd given to you; 

Bellyn atoned on the spot, that wicked 
attendant and base ; 

You now may, however, the case still fur- 
ther defend at the bar. 430 

In what I myself am concerned, I Reynard 
all freely forgive ; 

For he firmly has stood at my side in 
many a critical case. 

Has any one further complaint, we are 
ready to hear what it is ; 

Let him trustworthy witnesses bring, and 
prosecute all of his claims 

Against Reynard in order and form ; here, 
awaiting your charges, he stands. 



Most gracious my lord ! Reynard said, I 
give you my heartiest thanks. 

To each you give ear and dispense the 
benefits all of the law. 

Let me now with solemnity say, with what 
a disconsolate heart 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



I Bellyn and Lampen dismissed ; I had a 

foreboding, I think, 
Of what was to happen to both ; with 

tenderness loved I them well. 440 



Thus Reynard's narration and words were 

garnished with skill so adroit, 
That all were enforced to believe; he the 

treasures so neatly described, 
And conducted so gravely himself, that 

truth to be speaking he seemed; 
And to comfort him even they tried. And 

thus he deluded the king, 
Who much with the riches was pleased, and 

gladly would them have possessed. 
To Reynard he said: Be content, you 

shall go on a journey and try, 
Far and wide, to discover the lost, so all 

that is possible do. 
If need you may have of my help, it will 

at your service be found. 



CANTO X. 



313 



Said Reynard in answer to this : Your 

goodness I gratefully feel; 
These words are a comfort to me, and rea- 
son they give me to hope. 450 
To punish foul murder and theft is the 

highest of rights you possess. 
The matter to me is obscure, yet clear as 

the day shall become. 
With care will I after it look, and travel 

by day and by night, 
Without any thought of repose, and question 

all people I see. 
If I learn where the goods can be found, 

and them am not able again 
To get in my hands, for lack of due 

strength, for aid I shall ask, 
Which you to me then will vouchsafe, and 

the matter will surely succeed. 
If the treasures to you I safely restore, I 

shall find at the last 
My trouble requited in full, and my loyalty 

proved beyond doubt. 



314 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



The king with enjoyment this heard; and, 

without reservation, he gave 460 
Assent to what Reynard had said, who had 

woven his lies with such art 
That the rest all believed him as well; he 

now had permission, once more, 
To go and to come he as pleased, and that 

without question or check. 



Lost Isengrim now all control of himself, 

and, gnashing his teeth, 
He said : Gracious lord, you mean thus 

again to put trust in the thief, 
Who you two and threefold befooled? Who 

can help being struck with surprise? 
See you not that the scamp you deceives, 

and damage to all of us does? 
He never gives voice to the truth, and 

nothing devises but lies. 
But I, with such ease, will not let him 

off! You ought to know well 
That he is a rascal and false. I know of 

three capital crimes 470 



CANTO X. 



315 



Committed by him ; get off shall he not, 

even though we must fight. 
We are witnesses told to produce, what 

good would it do if we did? 
If they came and their evidence gave, for 

the sitting entire of the court, 
Would that be of any effect? He still 

would do just as he pleased. 
Very oft can no witness be had, ought the 

scallawag then to go on 
Committing his crimes as before? Who 

would venture to go on the stand? 
Some stigma he fastens on each, and each 

from such injury shrinks; 
You and yours it experience too, and in 

the same boat are we all. 
Today I will keep him in hand, he 

neither shall waver nor skulk ; 
But shall answer to me for his deeds, so 

now let him be on his guard. 480 



3 16 REYNARD THE FOX. 

CANTO ELEVEN 

His charges brought Isengrim forth, and said : 

Pray attend while I speak ! 
Reynard, most gracious of kings, the villain 

that ever he was, 
Remains to the present unchanged ; on 

infamous things he dilates, 
My kindred and me to disgrace ; and thus 

has he ever for me, 
And even more still for my wife, caused 

nigh unendurable shame. 
He tempted her, once on a time, to wade 

through a marsh to a pond, 
By making her firmly believe that, every 

day she was there, 
Great numbers of fish she could catch. If 

she in the water should put 
Her tail, and allow it to hang, then sure 

would the fish be to bite 
So well that, if four of them tried, not all 

to be got could they eat. to 
She went upon this on her way, and found 

herself swimming, at last, 



CANTO XI. 317 

Toward the sluice-end of the pond, where 

deeper the water was massed, 
And there he induced her to let her tail 

in the water hang down. 
The cold towards eve was intense, and 

to freeze so hard it began, 
That longer she scarce could hold out ; and 

thus, very shortly, her tail 
Had frozen become in the ice, so fast that 

she could not it raise ; 
And heavy, she thought, were the fish, that 

she had thus managed to catch. 
Reynard, the dastardly thief, observed this, 

and then what he did 
I can trust not myself to disclose ; he had 

her, alas, at his will. 
He shall not escape from us now ! His 

villainous conduct shall cost 20 
One of us two, as you'll see, his life before 

close of the day. 
This time shall his tongue not prevail ; I 

caught him, indeed, in the act, 
As I was, by accident, led to the top 

of a hillock near by. 



318 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



I heard her call loudly for help, the poor 

cheated thing that she was; 
Fast in the ice she was caught, and 

him was not able to check; 
And I, coming there, was compelled the 

whole of his doings to see ; 
In truth, an amazement it is that my heart 

was not broken thereat. 
Reynard, I cried in dismay, what, in God's 

name, are you at? 
He heard me and fled on his way. I came 

with a sorrowful heart, 
Was driven to shiver and wade in the cold, 

frozen water, and could 30 
The ice but with trouble break up, in order 

my wife to release. 
Alas ! we prospered not well ; she tugged 

with the whole of her might, 
And a quarter, at least, of her tail remained 

firmly held by the ice. 
Long and aloud she bemoaned; the peasants, 

at hearing the noise, 
Rushed forward and came on our track, and 

one to another they called. 



CANTO XI. 



319 



They hotly ran over the dam, with axes and 

pikes in their hands ; 
With distaff the women came too, all making 

a terrible din ; 
Catch them, they all of them cried, and 

give them a taste of your clubs. 
I never had felt so affrighted as then, and 

the same was confessed 
By Greedimund too; we found it hard work 

to get off with our lives, 40 
By running till skin fairly smoked. Then 

rushing along came a scamp, 
A devilish fellow he was, and armed with 

a long, wicked pike, 
And light on his feet, who after us 

stabbed, and pressed us quite hard. 
If night had not come to our aid, our lives 

we had certainly lost. 
The women still kept up their cry, the 

vixenish beldams, that we 
Some of their sheep had devoured. Fain 

had they added their blows 
To the horrible insults they cast ; our foot- 
steps, however, we turned 



320 REYNARD THE FOX. 

From land to the water again ; and, quick 

as the lightning, we slipped 
Back into the rushes at hand, where dared 

not the clowns to pursue; 
For now it quite dark had become, so back 

they returned to their homes. 50 
We hardly escaped as it was. You see, 

gracious king, in this case, 
Treason and murder and rape ; of infamous 

crimes such as these 
The question is now, and these you will 

punish severely, my king. 

When the king this arraignment had heard, 
he said : A case such as this 

Shall be by us righteously judged ; let Rey- 
nard thereover be heard. 

Reynard spake: If it were as described, 
then certainly would the affair 

Not much to my honor redound ; but God, 
in his mercy, forbid 

That facts should be found as set forth ; I 
will not, however, deny 



CANTO XI. 



32 1 



That fish I have taught her to catch, and 

also have showed her the path 
That best to the pond would conduct, and 

her to the water would take ; 60 
But on she so greedily ran, so soon as I 

spoke of the fish, 
That both moderation and road, and instruc- 
tion as well, she forgot. 
If she in the ice was held fast, then had 

she, without any doubt, 
Been sitting too long at her post, for if 

she had pulled in good time, 
Enough she of fish would have caught to 

serve for a dainty repast. 
Desire in too high a degree is always 

malign. When the heart 
To dissatisfaction inclines, it always must 

miss very much. 
Who harbors the spirit of greed, has life 

with anxiety filled, 
For no one can give him enough. This 

lesson dame Greedimund learned, 
When frozen she got in the ice. Poor 

thanks for my trouble she gives; 70 



322 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



But this consolation I have, that help her 

I honestly did, 
And pushed with the whole of my strength, 

in trying her safely to lift. 
But she was too heavy a weight; and, 

while I was doing my best, 
Isengrim chanced to draw near, in walking 

along by the shore. 
There, standing above, he called out and, 

horribly cursing, came down. 
Yes, I was in truth much alarmed, his 

beautiful blessings to hear; 
Not once, but e'en twice and three times, 

his terrible curses he flung 
At me there; and to scream he began, 

urged on by a fury so wild, 
That I thought: You had better be off, 

and not any longer wait here; 
Far better to fly than be flayed. The nail 

on its head I had hit, 80 
For he would me to pieces have torn. 

Whenever two dogs shall begin 
To fight with themselves for a bone, with 
absolute certainty must 



CANTO XI. 



323 



The one or the other it lose. Thus seemed 

it to me for the best 
To scamper away from his wrath and utter 

confusion of mind. 
That ferocious he was and remains, how 

can he deny? Only ask 
Of his wife ; for I will have nothing to say 

to a liar like him. 
So soon as he fastened his eyes on his 

wife, frozen fast in the ice, 
He viciously swore and reviled, and came 

and assisted her out. 
If the peasants made after them then, it 

certainly was for their good, 
For thus got in motion their blood, and 

cold they no longer could feel. 90 
Now what is there further to say? It 

mean and contemptible is 
For him to dishonor his wife with lies such 

as these which he tells. 
Herself you can ask, she is here; and, if 

what he says is the truth, 
Would surely not fail to complain. Mean- 
while I beg humbly to ask 



324 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



That the case be continued a week, in order 

my friends to consult, 
As to what kind of answer is due to the 

wolf and this charge that he brings. 

Greedimund thereupon said : In all of your 

actions and thoughts 
Can nothing be found, as we know, but 

roguery, falsehood, and fraud, 
Villainy, intrigue, and spite. Who your 

cavilling words shall believe 
Will surely be damaged at last; you always 

take care to employ 100 
Confused and inconsequent words. I found 

it like this at the well. 
Two buckets were hanging therein ; in one 

you had stationed yourself, 
For what I have never found out, and down 

to the bottom had gone ; 
And, finding unable yourself to get again 

back to the top, 
You blackened the air with your groans. 

By morning I came to the well, 



CANTO XI. 



325 



And asked: Who put you down there? 
You answered : You just in the nick 

Of time, dear gossip, have come! I yield 
to you all of my gains ; 

Get into the bucket up there and down 
you will come, and may eat 

Down here all the fish you can want. At 
an ill-fated moment I went, 

For you I believed, when you said you had 
eaten such numbers of fish, 110 

That a pain in your belly you had. I suf- 
fered myself to be fooled, 

And stupidly got in the pail, which quickly 
began to go down, 

While the other began to go up, till oppo- 
site me you arrived. 

To me it quite wonderful seemed, and I, 
in perplexity, asked : 

How chanced it to come about thus? In 
answer to me you replied: 

Up and down, so it goes in the world, and 
so goes it now with us two ; 

The course of things ever is thus, while 
some must abasement endure, 



326 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Are others exalted in turn, in accord with, 
the virtues of each. 

Then out of the bucket you jumped and, 
fast as you could, ran away. 

But, grieving, I sat in the well, and all 
the day long was compelled 120 

Therein to abide ; and blows without num- 
ber, at eve, to endure, 

Before I made good my escape. Some 
peasants then came to the well, 

And spied me down there in the pail, as 
I, with grim hunger annoyed, 

Was sitting in sorrow and fear, and feeling 
completely undone. 

The peasants among themselves said : Now 
see ! Down below in the pail 

Is sitting, at present, the foe that lessens 
our number of sheep. 

Haul him up, then one of them cried ; my- 
self I in readiness hold 

To greet him up here at the edge, and he 
for our lambs shall now pay. 

But the kind of a greeting I got ! That 
pitiful was, for there fell 



CANTO XI. 



327 



Blow after blow on my hide. Not once, in 
the whole of my life, 130 

Had I a more sorrowful day, and scarce 
came I of! with my life. 



In answer to this, Reynard said: The sequel 

more closely regard, 
And you will assuredly find how healthful 

that whipping has been ; 
Although, with respect to myself, I prefer 

to dispense with the like. 
As then was the state of the case, was one 

or the other compelled 
To burden himself with the blows, for both 

of us could not escape. 
It will aid you to bear this in mind ; for 

then, in a similar case, 
You none will so easily trust. The world 

is brim full of deceit. 

Indeed, retorted the wolf, what evidence 
more do we need? 



328 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



No one has damaged me more than this 

rascally, treacherous scamp. 140 
One matter not yet have I told : how he, 

out in Saxony once, 
In the midst of the tribe of the apes, me 

led into shame and disgrace. 
He there, on some pretext, induced me into 

a pit to descend, 
Knowing quite well in advance that mischief 

on me it would bring. 
If I had not quickly run off, my sight and 

my hearing would there 
Have been lost. Before I went in he had 

said, with plausible words, 
His aunt I should find in the place, mean- 
ing by that the she-ape. 
It irked him to see me escape, for he sent 

me, with malice prepense, 
Down into that horrible nest; I thought I 

had got into hell. 

Said Reynard in answer thereto, before all 
the lords of the court: 150 



CANTO XI. 



329 



The wolf most distractedly talks, not quite 

in his senses he seems ; 
If he of the ape would report, he plainly 

should say what he means. 
Two years and a half have gone by, since 

into the Saxon confines 
He led with carousal the way, and I thither 

went in pursuit. 
That is true ; the rest is a lie. An ape was 

there not in the place. 
He is talking about some baboons; and, 

never at all, will I them 
Acknowledge as kinsmen of mine. But 

Martin the ape and his wife, 
Dame Ruckenau, relatives are; I both as 

my cousins respect, 
And of the connection am proud. The 

life of a jurist he leads, 
And knows the whole law like a book. 

But as to those creatures of whom 160 
Now Isengrim talks, he treats me with 

scorn. With them, let me say, 
I have nothing whatever to do, they never 

were kinsmen of mine. 



33° REYNARD THE FOX. 

They resemble the devil in hell, and if the 

old lady I called 
My aunt, at the time in dispute, I did it 

with prudent intent; 
And nothing- thereby did I lose, this much 

I will readily own ; 
She treated me well as her guest; or else 

might she well have been choked. 



Behold you, my lords, we had gone a little 

aside from the road, 
And round to the back of a hill, where we 

came on a cavernous pit, 
Deep and gloomy and long. Now here, as 

accustomed he is, 
With hunger felt Isengrim ill. Whenever 

has he, of a truth, 170 
Been seen with his stomach so full, that he 

has contented appeared? 
And then, unto him I observed: Down 

here, in this cave, may be found, 
No doubt, food enough and to spare; and, 

doubtless, its inmates with us 



CANTO XI. 



331 



Will gladly divide what they have ; we 
come at an opportune time. 

But Isengrim said in response : My uncle, I 
much would prefer 

To wait for you under this tree, for you 
are, by far, the more apt 

At making acquaintances new; and if food 
be extended to you, 

Let me be informed. The villain thus 
thought that he would, at my risk, 

The outcome await where he was. There- 
upon I directed my steps 

Down into the cavernous hole ; and, shudder- 
ing, wandered I through 180 

The lengthy and crooked approach, which 
seemed as if never to end. 

But that which I came upon then ! Such 
fright would I not undergo, 

Twice in the course of my life, for a pile 
of the ruddiest gold. 

Such a nestful of horrible beasts, the 
large intermixed with the small ! 

The mother, indeed, of the brood I took for 
the devil himself. 



332 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Capacious and broad was her mouth, with 

its big and detestable teeth ; 
Big claws on her hands and her feet, with 

long and most hideous tail 
Set behind at the end of her back ; a thing 

so atrocious have I 
Not seen, in the whole of my life. The 

tawny, disgusting young cubs 
Were all most remarkably formed, like noth- 
ing but horrible spooks. 190 
Upon me she grewsomely gazed ; I wished 

T was anywhere else. 
She bigger than Isengrim was, and some of 

her cubs were, indeed, 
Her equal in stature almost. Imbedded in 

festering hay, 
I came on the sickening brood, all over and 

over besmeared 
With mire up as far as their ears; while 

the stink that polluted the den 
Was worse than the brimstone of hell. 

To tell you the truth unadorned, 
But little I liked it in there ; for of them 

such a number there was, 



CANTO XI. 



333 



While I was entirely alone ; and dreadful 

grimaces they made. 
I gathered my scattering thoughts, and 

sought for a way of retreat, 
But greeted them well — though this was a 

sham — and friendly behaved, 200 
As if an acquaintance I was. As aunt I 

the mother addressed, 
And cousins the children I called, and bashful 

was not in my speech. 
May God in his mercy you spare to a long 

and a prosperous life ! 
Are all these dear little ones yours? But 

really, I need not have asked. 
How pleasant to see them it is. Good 

heavens ! how brim full of life, 
And thoroughly handsome they are. For 

sons of the king they would pass. 
I give you, a thousand times, joy, that 

you, with descendants of worth, 
Thus are augmenting our race; I rejoice 

beyond measure thereat. 
I think myself now in good luck, to know 

of such kinsmen as these ; 



334 REYNARD THE FOX. 

In critical times it may be, that kindred 
some help can supply. 210 

When honor so great I bestowed, although 

I in earnest was not, 
She showed me, on her part, the same, and 

me as her uncle addressed, 
And like a relation behaved ; little indeed 

as the crone 
Is any connection of mine. Yet not for 

this once could it do 
Any harm to address her as aunt. Mean- 
while, I was covered with sweat, 
All over and over, through fright ; and yet 

she most affablv said: 
Reynard, dear kinsman and friend, most 

heartily welcome you are ; 
I earnestly hope you are well. To you, my 

whole life, I shall feel 
Obliged for this visit of yours; henceforth, 

you can rational thoughts 
To the minds of my children impart, that 

they may to honor attain. 220 



CANTO XI. 



335 



Such was her manner of talk; and this, in 

a very few words, 
By calling her aunt and sparing the truth, 

I richly deserved. 
I still had an earnest desire to get once 

again to the air, 
But allow me to go she would not, and 

said: You, uncle, must not, 
Without some refreshment, depart. Remain 

till some food you have had. 
And she brought me a plenty to eat; I 

could not at present recall 
The names of the dishes she set; amazed to 

the utmost I was 
As to how she had come by it all. I 

feasted on venison and fish 
And other most relishing game ; the whole 

of it just to my taste. 
When all I could eat I had had, then for- 
ward she furthermore brought 230 
A hunk from a stag she had got, and 

wished me to carry it home, 
For my wife and my children to eat; and 
I took an affectionate leave. 



33^ REYNARD THE FOX. 

Reynard, she said once again, I hope you 

will visit me oft. 
I promised her all that she wished, and 

managed to get from the place. 
Inside so unpleasant it was, as well for the 

eyes as the nose, 
That I was near dying while there ; tried 

all I knew how to get out ; 
The passage ran nimbly along, till the open- 
ing I reached at the tree, 
And groaning found Isengrim there. How 

are you, dear uncle? I said. 
Quoth he : I am not at all well, with 

hunger I soon shall be dead. 
I him, out of sympathy, gave the delicate 

collop of roast, 240 
That with me away I had brought. He 

this with voracity ate, 
And thanked me again and again ; but he 

has forgotten it now. 
When finished he was, he began : Now 

let me know all about those, 
Who make in the cavern their home. How 

did you find things within? 



canto xi. 337 

Good or bad? And I told him the truth, 

and nought but the truth; 
Exactly apprized him of all. The nest was 

atrocious, but still, 
Therein was much delicate food. So soon 

as he felt a desire 
His share of the same to receive, his 

entrance he boldly could make ; 
But he, above all, must avoid saying out 

what exactly he thought. 
If things you would have as you wish, be 

careful to husband the truth! 250 
I repeated it several times, for if it one 

foolishly has, 
For ever, at tip of the tongue, oppression 

he everywhere finds ; 
He stands, in all places, behind, and others 

are called to the front. 
In this way I bade him depart, and told 

him, let happen what might, 
That he must be careful to say what each 

was desirous to hear, 
And he then would be kindly received. 

These were exactly the words, 



338 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Most noble monarch and lord, that conscience 

impelled me to say. 
But he just the contrary did ; and, if he 

got punished for that, 
Then let him the punishment bear; he 

should listen to what he is told. 
In truth, are his shaggy locks gray, yet 

wisdom beneath would be sought, 260 
Without any chance of success. Such fellows 

but little esteem 
Good sense or ingenuous thoughts; the 

worth of all wisdom is kept, 
From gawky and blunt-witted folk, for ever 

and always concealed. 
I faithfully on him enjoined, this once to 

be frugal of truth. 
I know what is proper myself, he proudly 

responded to that ; 
And trotted thus into the hole, and well 

for his trouble got paid. 

Behind sat the horrible wife, he] thought it 
was Satan himself, 



CANtO XI. 



That before him he saw. Moreover, the 

cubs! Now, bewildered, he cried: 
Oh, heavens! What horrible beasts! Are 

these little wretches your whelps? 
They have the appearance, indeed, of a 

hellish young rabble of fiends; 270 
To drown them would be the best thing, 

so that the brood may itself 
Not spread abroad over the earth. If 

mine they should happen to be, 
I would strangle them every one. With 

them for a bait could be caught 
Young devils, in numbers, with ease; in a 

bog one would only require 
To fasten them well to the reeds, the 

odious, villainous brutes ; 
Marsh-monkeys they ought to be called, the 

name would exactly them fit. 

With haste did the mother reply, and 

uttered some violent words : 
What demon has sent us this guest? Who 

you has invited to come, 



340 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



And greet us uncouthly like this? And 

what with my children have you, 
Good-looking or ugly, to do? Just now has 

departed from us 280 
That learned man, Reynard the fox, who 

very well knows what he means; 
And he did my children affirm, without 

deviation, to be 
Handsome, well-mannered, and good ; he was 

perfectly ready and glad 
To recognize them as of kin. Not more 

than an hour has gone by 
Since he, standing here in this place, us all 

gave assurance of that. 
If please you as him they do not, why 

then I must tell you, in truth, 
That no one has asked you to come. Pray, 

understand, Isengrim, that. 

At this he demanded of her, that dinner at 

once she provide; 
And said: Fetch it here, or I will it help 

you to find. I desire 



CANTO XI. 



341 



No words any further to hear. And then 

he attempted, by force, 290 
To confiscate some of her stores; a thing 

that was badly advised. 
She threw herself on him forthwith, and 

bit him and savagely scratched 
His skin with her hideous nails, and vi- 
ciously tore him and clawed. 
Her children did also the same, they terribly 

champed him and rent; 
Then cried he blue murder and howled, his 

cheeks covered over with blood ; 
Himself he tried not to defend, but ran with 

quick strides to get out. 
Wickedly bitten, I saw him emerge, all torn 

and in tatters his skin ; 
Split open was one of his ears, and blood 

freely flowed from his nose ; 
They'd nipped him with many a wound, and 

also his pelt had contrived 
To cram all together with filth. I asked, 

as he trod from the place : 300 
The truth have you spoken to her? And 

thus he replied to my words: 



342 REYNARD THE FOX. 

I said to her just what I thought, and 

then did the wretched old shrew 
Me badly disfigure and lame ; I would I 

could meet her outside, 
She then should pay dear for it all. How, 

Reynard, appears it to you? 
Did you ever set eyes on such whelps? So 

horribly filthy and vile? 
No sooner I spoke, than it all came about; 

and as I, in her eyes, 
No more any favor could find, very badly 

I fared in the hole. 

Are you crazy? I answered thereto; I cau- 
tioned you well against this. 

I do you most heartily greet, is the proper 
thing to have said. 

Pray how, my dear aunt, do you do? I 
would also ask after the health 310 

Of those pretty children of yours. I am 
glad both my little and big 

Young cousins once more to behold. But 
Isengrim said in reply: 



CANTO XI. 



343 



That woman accost as my aunt? And 

cousins, those hideous brats? 
The devil may take the whole lot! Such 

kinsmen a horror would be. 
Oh. faugh ! Such a damnable herd ! I 

never will see them again. 
For this was he paid with such coin. Your 

judgment now render, oh king ! 
With justice can he now affirm that by me 

he was tricked? Let him state 
If the matter did not come about, as I have 

this instant explained. 



Then Isengrim firmly replied : We shall 

not, I can readily see, 
Determine this contest with words. From 

chiding what good do we get? 320 
Right is right, and wherever it dwells, 

itself it will show in the end. 
You, Reynard, now boldly step forth, if 

you think its abode is with you. 
We now with each other will fight, and 

then we shall know where it is. 



344 REYNARD THE FOX. 

So much you have found to report, as to 

how, in the den of the apes, 
The torments of hunger I bore, and you 

me so faithfully fed; 
Though how, I can't possibly think. It was 

only a bit of a bone 
That you brought ; most likely the meat you 

had eaten already yourself. 
You stand there, and ridicule me, and boldly 

you talk in a way 
That closely my honor affects. And you, 

with most scandalous lies, 
On me a suspicion have cast, of having a 

dastardly plot 330 
To injure the king had in mind; and hav- 
ing conceived the desire 
Of putting an end to his life; no scruples, 

however, have you 
In bragging of treasures to him, which he 

would be troubled to find. 
You shamefully treated my wife, and that 

you will have to atone. 
These things I now lay at your door, with 

a firm resolution to fight, 



CANTO XI. 



345 



Concerning the old and the new; and this 

I say over: That you 
Are a murderer, traitor, and thief ; and 

now, setting life against life, 
We in combat will settle the thing, and 

chiding and scolding will end. 
I tender my gauntlet to you, as always 

sufficient in law, 
From every challenger, is. You may it 

retain as a gage, 340 
And soon can our meeting be had. Our 

monarch my challenge has heard, 
And all of his barons as well ; and they, 

I most earnestly hope, 
This battle for right will attend. Not a 

chance shall you have to escape, 
Till the matter is finally closed ; and then 

we shall see what is what. 

Reynard now thought to himself: At risk 

are possessions and life! 
He is big and but little am I, and this 

time should matters with me, 



346 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



In any way, take a wrong turn, then all 

my devices and tricks 
Of but little avail will have been ; yet let 

us await the event. 
I think some advantage I have; for lately 

he lost his front paws. 
If cooler the fool does not get, he surely 

shall not, in the end, 350 
His way in the' matter obtain, let the cost 

be whatever it may. 

And then, Reynard said to the wolf : It 

possible, Isengrim, is 
That you are a traitor to me; and all of 

the sundry complaints, 
You are thinking to bring against me, are 

made up entirely of lies. 
If combat you wish, I will risk it with 

you, and never shall flinch. 
I long]- such a thing have desired, and here 

is my glove in exchange. 

The monarch the pledges received, and both 
did them boldly present. 



CANTO XI. 



347 



At the end of this function, he said : You 
each must security give, 

That tomorrow you fight without fail. Both 
of the parties, I think, 

Are sadly confused in their minds, I noth- 
ing can make of their talk. 360 

In an instant, as Isengrim's bail, came for- 
ward the bear and the cat ; 

And then, upon Reynard's behalf, as vouch- 
ers presented themselves 

A son of old Martin, the ape, with Grim- 
bart, the badger, conjoined. 



At this, dame Ruckenau said : You, Reynard, 

must keep yourself calm, 
You need all the senses you have. My 

husband, who now is in Rome, 
Your uncle, once taught me a prayer, the 

subject of which was composed 
By the abbot of Bolton himself; and he to 

my consort it gave, 
To whom he was kindly disposed, on a 

small scrap of paper transcribed. 



348 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



This prayer, so the abbot maintained, has 

very great virtue for those 
About to engage in a fight; one, fasting, 

must read it at morn, 370 
And then shall one daily remain insured 

against danger and want, 
And fully exempted from death, as well as 

from wounds and from pain. 
Take comfort, my nephew in this: that I, 

in the morning betimes, 
Will it over you read, that hope you may 

have, and freedom from fear. 
Dear aunt, then responded the fox, I return 

you my heartiest thanks ; 
I shall always be mindful of this. Yet 

help I must ever expect, 
Most, from the right of my cause and the 

skill I can bring into play. 

Together abode Reynard's friends the whole 

of the night, and dispelled 
His cares with hilarious talk. But anxious 

dame Riickenau was, 



CANTO XI. 



349 



And busy with all he might need. With 

alacrity had she him shorn, 380 
From head to the tip of his tail, as well 

as his belly and breast; 
And covered with fat and with oil ; and then 

it was made to appear 
That Reynard was fat and rotund, and very 

well set on his legs. 
Take heed, in addition she said, and con- 
sider what you have to do. 
Hark well to intelligent friends, for that 

will avail you the most ; 
Drink well, and retain what you drink ; and 

to the arena be sure, 
In the morning, as prudent, to come ; then 

see that you moisten your brush 
All over and over till soaked, and try your 

opponent to hit. 
If you manage his eyes to anoint, 'twill be 

the best thing you can do, 
For his sight will be clouded at once ; and 

that will be useful to you, 390 
While him it will greatly impede. At first 

you must fearful appear, 



350 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And at once, in the teeth of the wind, as 

fast as you can, run away. 
If he should give chase, then stir up the 

dust, in order his eyes 
To close with excretion and sand. Then 

spring to one side, and yourself 
Adapt to his every move ; and, while he is 

wiping his eyes, 
Improve the advantage obtained, and thor- 
oughly sprinkle those eyes 
With your aqua fortis again, till totally 

blind he becomes, 
And longer knows not where he is, then 

yours shall the victory be. 
Dear nephew, just sleep now a bit, and we 

will you surely awake 
When the requisite time has arrived. And 

now I will over you read 400 
The sanctified words I described, that braced 

you may be by their aid. 
Her hand on his head she imposed, and 

recited the words that she had, 
From Martin, her husband, received, as 

stated above. Then she said: 



CANTO XI. 351 

Good luck you attend ! You now are 

secure ! The same were then said 
By Grimbart, his uncle, as well; then led 

they him off to his bed, 
And he peaceably slept. At rise of the 

sun, the otter arrived, 
With the badger, their cousin to wake. 

They gave him a friendly salute, 
And told him himself to prepare. The otter 

then brought to the room 
A tender, delicious young duck and, handing 

it to him, he said : 
Pray eat ; I have it for you, with many a 

spring and a jump, 410 
At the dam by Pimpernel, caught ; I hope 

it my cousin will please. 



Good hansel is that, I declare, quite cheer- 
fully Reynard replied, 

A something not lightly to scorn. May God, 
of his grace, you repay, 

For thinking so kindly of me. Now him- 
self up to eating he gave, 



352 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



And drinking quite freely as well; and then, 

with his kinsmen, he went 
To the spot on the unwrinkled sand, where 

they were intended to fight. 416 



CANTO XII. 



353 



CANTO TWELVE. 

When eyes upon Reynard he set, as now 

in the ring he appeared, 
With body clean shaven and smooth, and 

over and over bedaubed 
With oil and perfidious fat, with laughter 

the king was convulsed. 
You fox, who that has you taught? he 

exclaimed. With justice, indeed, 
You Reynard, the Fox, may be called; a 

trickster incessant you are. 
Some hole you in all places know, and how 

to make use of it too. 



Quite low Reynard bowed to the king, and 

also especially low 
To the queen, who sat by his side; then 

came he, with spirited bounds, 
Inside of the ring, where the wolf, with 

numerous kinsmen and friends, 
His appearance already had made, all 

wishing defeat to the fox; 10 



354 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And many a choleric word, and many a 

menace he heard. 
But Lynx and Lupardus at length, who 

kept the arena, brought forth 
The sacred mementos, on which now both 

the contestants made oath, 
The wolf and the fox, regarding the matter 

which each would maintain. 

Isengrim swore, with vehement words and 

threatening looks, 
That Reynard a traitor and thief, as well 

as a murderer, was ; 
Involved in all kinds of misdeeds; in rape 

and adultery caught ; 
In every matter was false ; and life against 

life must be staked. 
Then Reynard made oath, at once, in 

return, that nothing he knew 
Of one of these infamous crimes; as ever 

did Isengrim lie, 20 
And falsely, as usual, swore ; but still he 

would never succeed 



CANTO XII. 



355 



In passing his falsehoods for truth, at any 

rate, now he would not. 
As follows the stewards then spake: Let 

each carry into effect 
What now is incumbent on each, and soon 

will the right be revealed. 
The big and the little vacated the ring, 

these two, by themselves, 
Therein to confine. Then quickly to whisper 

the she-ape began : 
To what I have told you attend ; forget not 

my counsel to heed. 
With cheerfulness, Reynard replied : The 

good exhortation you gave, 
More valorous makes me to feel. Rest 

easy, for now I shall not 
The tricks or the boldness forget, by which 

I have managed to come 30 
From many a peril more dire, into which 

I have often been thrown, 
When I this and that have acquired, for 

which nothing yet has been paid, 
And boldly my life has been risked. At 

present then why should I not 



356 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Come forward the scoundrel to meet? I 

certainly hope to disgrace 
Both him and his genus entire, and honor 

to bring upon mine. 
I him will serve out for his lies. At this, 

they were both of them left 
Together inside of the ring, and the others 

looked eagerly on. 

Isengrim wild and ferocious appeared : ex- 
tending his claws, 
Thenceforward he came with forcible springs 

and jaws open wide. 
But Reynard, more active than he. sprang 

off from his furious foe, 40 
And quickly his rough, shaggy tail with his 

aqua fortis he soaked, 
And whisked it about in the dust, in order 

to fill it with sand. 
Now, Isengrim thought, he is mine ; in a 

moment the miscreant struck 
Him over the eyes with his tail, when 

vanished both hearing and sight. 



CANTO XII. 



357 



This trick was an old one of his ; already 

had many poor chaps 
Given the virulent strength of his aqua 

fortis a test. 
He had blinded so Isengrim's cubs, as in 

the beginning was told, 
And now he their father would mark. 

When he his antagonist's eyes 
Had lathered like this with the stuff, he 

sprang away sideways and put 
Himself in the wind, then beat up the 

sand, and much of the dust 50 
Drove into the eyes of the wolf, who, 

by whisking and rubbing it in 
In his haste, did the worst he could do, 

and greatly augmented his pain. 
On the other hand Reynard contrived, with 

acumen, his tail to employ; 
He struck his opponent anew, and rendered 

him thoroughly blind. 
It wretchedly went with the wolf, for care 

took the fox to improve 
The advantage he thus had obtained ; and> 

soon as he came to observe 



358 REYNARD THE FOX. 

The bedewed, smarting eyes of his foe, he 

began, with impetuous bounds, 
To assail him with powerful blows, and 

bring into vigorous play 
His nails as well as his teeth, and ever his 

eyes to anoint. 
Half crazed, the wolf scrambled about; then 

him to make game of began 60 
Reynard more boldly, and said: Sir Wolf, 

you have oft, in the past, 
Choked many an innocent lamb; and also, 

in course of your life, 
Gulped many immaculate beasts; I hope 

they'll be able, henceforth, 
The blessings of rest to enjoy; and that 

you may, in any event, 
Be willing to leave them in peace, and 

take benediction for pay. 
A penance like this will be good for your 

soul, and strikingly so, 
If calmly your end you await. This time, 

rest assured, you will not 
From me in escaping succeed; appease me 

you must with your prayers; 



CANTO XII. 



359 



Then mercy extend you I will, and see 
that your life is preserved. 

Hastily Reynard said this, and had his 
opponent, meanwhile, 70 

Steadfastly seized by the throat, expecting 
him thus to subdue ; 

But Isengrim, stronger than he, then sav- 
agely roused himself up, 

And tore himself suddenly free. Now 
Reynard laid hold of his face, 

Inflicted a terrible wound, and one of his 
eyes he contrived 

Adroitly to pluck from his head ; and blood 
ran below from his nose. 

Reynard cried out : This pleases me well ! 
This means my success ! 

The wolf to lose courage began ; his blood 
and the loss of his eye 

Him out of his mind nearly drove ; forget- 
ting his pain and his wounds, 

Directly on Reynard he sprang, and forced 
him below to the earth. 



360 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



The fox now began to feel ill, and little 
his wisdom availed, 80 

For one of his foremost paws, which he 
had made use of as hands, 

Isengrim hurriedly seized, and held with his 
teeth like a vice. 

In pain Reynard lay on the ground, and 
fear, at that instant, he felt 

Of losing entirely his hand ; and a thous- 
and ideas conceived. 

Then Isengrim bellowed these words, in 
a deep and sepulchral voice : 



Your hour, you thief, has arrived ! Sur- 
render you now on the spot, 

Or else you dead I will strike, for all of 
your fraudulent deeds. 

My debt to you now I will pay; to you 
little help has it been, 

The dust to stir up, your bladder to drain, 
your hide to have shaved, 

And body with grease to besmear. Woe 
to you now ! you have done 90 



CANTO XII. 



361 



Such evil to me with your lies, and ruined 

the sight of my eye ; 
But now you shall not get away; surrender, 

or else I will bite. 

Thought Reynard at this: I am now in a 
fix, and what can I do? . 

If give I not in, he puts me to death; and 
if I give in, 

Dishonor for ever is mine. This punish- 
ment well I deserve, 

For him I too badly have used, too grossly 
offensive have been. 

And then honeyed phrases he tried, in 
order his foe to appease. 

Dear uncle, to him he remarked, I shall, 
with much pleasure, become 

One of your vassals at once, with every- 
thing I possess ; 

And gladly will go as a pilgrim for you 
to the sacred tomb, 100 

To the Holy Land, into every church, and 
bring you therefrom 



362 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Indulgences plentiful back. The same will 

undoubtedly tend 
To the profit and good of your soul; and 

over enough shall be left 
For both of your parents, as well, that in 

life everlasting they may 
This benefit also enjoy; who does such 

assistance not need ? 
I honor you much as the pope; and now, 

by the gods, do I swear 
A sacred, inviolate oath, that from now till 

futurity's end, 
I will, with the whole of my kin, be ever 

in bondage to you. 
Without intermission we all at your service 

will be. This I swear! 
What I to the king would not grant, is now 

freely offered to you. no 
If you my proposal accept, one day shall 

the kingdom be yours. 
Then all I am able to catch will I order 

to you to be brought, — 
Geese and ducks and poultry and fish, — ere 

I the least part 



CANTO XII. 



363 



Of any such food shall consume ; to you 

and your children and wife 
Shall the pick of it always be left. I will, 

in addition, with zeal, 
Take care that your life is made safe, no 

evil shall ever you touch. 
I crafty am called, and you have the 

strength, so together we can 
Great deeds, I imagine, perform. If each 

by the other we stand, 
The one with his might, the other with 

skill, who can us subdue? 
If one with the other we fight, it only 

vexation will bring. 120 
This thing I should never have done, if I 

but a decent excuse 
Had known for refusing to fight ; you 

challenged, however, and I 
Had nothing to do but accept, if only in 

honor's behalf. 
But courtly myself I have borne and, during 

the course of the strife, 
Not all of my strength have displayed ; for 

seemed it to me that it must 



364 REYNARD THE FOX. 

To honor most fully redound, my uncle 

forbearance to show. 
If hatred to you I had borne, it otherwise 

with you had gone. 
Slight are the wounds you've received ; and 

if, by unlucky mischance, 
The use of your eye is impaired, for that I 

am heartily grieved. 
The best of the matter is this: that I a 

restorative know, 130 
And if it to you I impart, then thankful 

to me you will feel. 
Though even your eye should be gone, yet 

well if you otherwise get, 
That always a comfort will be; for, when 

you lie down to your sleep, 
One window alone you must close, while we 

shall have double the care. 
In order your anger to calm, my relatives 

all, straight away, 
Themselves shall before you prostrate ; my 

wife and my children, as well, 
In the presence, at once, of the king, and in 

this assemblage's sight, 



CANTO XII. 



365 



Shall make intercession for me, and beg that 

you will me forgive, 
And let me depart with my life. I then 

will in public avow 
That I have been telling untruths, and done 

you much harm with my lies, 140 
Deceiving you all that I could. And further 

I promise to swear, 
That of you nothing evil I know, and will, 

from the present time on, 
Not injure you, even in thought. Now, how 

could you ever demand 
Any greater atonement from me than what 

I am ready to make? 
If you put me to death, what get you by 

that? There will always remain 
My friends and relations to fear ; and then, 

beyond this, bear in mind 
That, should you me spare, you will quit, 

with glory and honor, the field, 
And to all will seem noble and wise ; for 

higher is capable none 
Himself to exalt, than when he forgives. 

A chance such as this 



366 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Will not again soon to you come. Take it 
up! For the rest, it is now 150 

The same altogether to me, whether I am 
to live or to die. 

Hypocrite ! answered the wolf, what pleasure 

to you it would be, 
If I should again set you free ; but of gold 

if the world were composed, 
And it you should offer to me, now in the 

hour of your need, 
I would not again let you go. Thus oft 

you have taken vain oaths, 
Lying rascal, to me! In truth, not the 

shell of an egg should I get, 
If I were to part with you now. Your 

kinsmen not much do I reck ; 
I am ready for all they can do, and think 

it quite proper that I 
Their enmity thus should acquire. Malevo- 
lent rascal, how would 
You not scoff, if you I let go on these 

protestations you make. 160 



CANTO XII. 



367 



Who you did not know would be duped. 

You say you have spared me today, 
You scurvy, detestable thief! And is there 

not one of my eyes 
Now hanging far out of my head? You 

wretch, have you also my skin 
Not damaged in places a score? The 

chance should I ever have had 
Again to recover my breath, if you the 

advantage had gained ? 
Most stupidly would it be done if I, for 

this scandal and shame, 
To you grace and pity now showed. You 

traitor, on me and my wife 
You harm and dishonor have brought, and 

now you shall pay with your life. 



As the wolf was addressing the fox, in 
some way the rascal contrived 

His paw that was free to ingraft between 
his antagonist's thighs, 170 

And clutch his most sensitive parts, inhu- 
manly rending him there. 



368 REYNARD THE FOX . 

But of this nothing more will I say, except 

that the wolf now began 
In a pitiful manner to cry and to howl, 

with his mouth open wide. 
Reynard now swiftly withdrew his paw 

from the close pinching teeth ; 
With both he held on to the wolf, with 

ever more tightening grasp, 
And pinched and grappled and pulled, till 

cried the poor fellow so hard, 
That blood he began to throw up. His pain 

was so great that the sweat, 
All over his body, broke out, and terror 

now loosened his bowels. 
The fox was delighted at this; and, hoping 

the contest to win, 
Held on to him now with hands and with 

teeth, till such awful distress, 180 
Such torture, came over the wolf, that he 

gave himself over as lost. 
The blood from his eye ran over his head, 

and he fell in a swoon 
To the ground. The fox, at this moment, 

would not an abundance of gold, 



CANTO XII. 



369 



For a sight such as this, have exchanged; 

and thus he continued to hold, 
To drag, and to worry the wolf, that all 

might behold his distress ; 
He pulled, he pinched, and he bit, and 

clawed the poor impotent brute, 
Till he with convulsions was seized, and in 

his own filth and the dust, 
He rolled with unearthly howls, in a truly 

unmannerly way. 

His friends now lamented aloud, and 

proceeded the king to entreat 
The combat to bring to an end, if so it 

should please him to do. 190 
The king thus replied to their prayer : So 

soon as you all are agreed, 
And it pleases you all that so it shall be, 

then I am content. 



The king then gave a command to the 
keepers both of the ring, 



37o 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Lupardus and Lynx, that they now to the 

two belligerents go. 
So within the arena they went, and to 

Reynard, the victor, they said 
That now it had gone far enough, and the 

king had expressed a desire 
The combat himself to assume, and the 

quarrel see brought to an end. 
He wishes that you, they went on, your 

opponent surrender to him, 
And now, to your overcome foe, be willing 

his life to accord. 
For if in this duel should one, by act of 

the other, be killed, 200 
Harm would on both sides be done. The 

advantage you certainly have ! 
All, little and big, have it seen, and all 

the best men of the state 
Accord you support and applause. For ever 

you've won them as friends, 

Reynard, with feeling, then said : For this 
I shall thankful be found! 



CANTO XII. 



37i 



With pleasure I follow the will of the king, 

and that which is fit 
I gladly shall do ; I have conquered, and no 

greater honor than that 
Can wish to achieve. But one thing I hope 

the king will permit : 
That counsel I take with my friends. Then 

shouted aloud all the friends 
Of Reynard, each one : It seems to us good 

with the wish of the king, 
At once, to comply; and running they came 

to the victor in crowds; 210 
His relatives all, the badger, the otter, the 

beaver, the ape. 
Now too could be classed the marten and 

weasel as friends of the fox, 
The ermine and squirrel as well, and many 

who bore him ill-will, 
And would not have uttered his name ; they 

all of them ran to him now. 
There also appearance put in, those who 

had charged him with crime, 
As if now relations they were ; with wives 

and with children they came, 



372 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



The big and the small and between, and 

even their infants in arms. 
They fondled and flattered him all, as if not 

enough could they do. 

It ever goes thus in the world. The fortu- 
nate always are wished 

Enjoyment of lasting good health, and 
friends in abundance they find; 220 

But he whom misfortune assails, in patience 
his soul must possess. 

Just so did it here come to pass; and, next 
to the victor, was each 

Himself fully ready to puff. Some played 
on the flute and trombone ; 

While others were singing with joy, or beat- 
ing, at intervals, drums. 

Said Reynard's adherents to him: Rejoice, 
in that you have, today, 

Exalted yourself and your race, by what you 
have done in the ring; 

Excessively troubled we felt, when it looked 
as if you had succumbed; 



CANTO XII. 



373 



But the aspect was speedily changed, and 

splendidly played was the piece. 
Reynard remarked : I have won ! and ten- 
dered his thanks to his friends. 
At this their departure they took, with 

plenty of bustle and noise, 230 
And Reynard in front of them all, by 

both the ring stewards upheld, 
Until they arrived at the throne, where 

Reynard fell down on his knees. 
The king bade him get on his feet, and 

said, before all of his lords: 
The day you have saved in good style ; 

with glory and honor have you 
This matter conducted all through, for 

which I acquit you of guilt ; 
All penalties now are revoked, and about it 

it I fully intend, 
In my council of nobles, to speak, on the 

very first day that again 
Isengrim's health is restored; the matter is 

closed for today. 



374 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Your advice, most gracious of lords, Rey- 
nard discreetly replied, 

Is good into practice to put ; your knowl- 
edge is best in the case. 240 

When hither I came, so many complained ; 
they lied to the wolf, 

My resolute foe to oblige, who thought he 
would me overthrow, 

And got me well-nigh in his power; then 
also the others cried out: 

To the cross ! and joined in complaint, in 
order to compass my death ; 

And all to be pleasing to him, for clearly 
it was to be seen, 

That with you he stood better than I ; and 
none had the slightest idea 

Of how it would end; nor where, perad- 
venture, the truth might reside. 

To yon dogs I compare them, indeed, the 
which in great numbers were wont 

In front of the kitchen to stand, in hope 
that the goodnatured cook 

Them would remember, perchance, with one 
or two bones now and then. 250 



CANTO XII. 



375 



These wide-awake, open-mouthed dogs now 

one of their fellows observed, 
Who managed to steal from the cook a 

portion of meat that was boiled, 
And, haplessly, got not away sufficiently fast 

from the place ; 
For the cook, coming on him behind, hot 

water upon him had thrown, 
And badly had scalded his tail. Yet let he 

his booty not fall, 
But mingled himself with the rest, who one 

to another remarked : 
Just notice how him does the cook, above 

all the others, befriend ; 
And see what a precious tid-bit he him 

gave ! And then he replied : 
You little the bearings perceive ; you praise 

and commend me in front, 
Where possibly pleasure you get, by feasting 

your eyes on the meat ; 260 
But look at me now from behind ; and, if 

you me happy account, 
You soon your opinion will change. They 

fully examined him then, 



376 REYNARD THE FOX. 

And found him so terribly burned, that fast 

coming out was his hair, 
And shrivelled was all of his skin. With 

terror they all were now seized, 
And went to the kitchen no more, but 

bolted and left him alone. 
My lord, it's the greedy I'm aiming at 

here ; while mighty they are, 
Quite ready and willing are all, to have 

them as comrades and friends. 
All hours of the day they are bearing off 

meat in their mouths. 
Who does not conform to their ways, will 

for it to suffer be made. 
Our praise they must always receive, how 

badly soever they act, 270 
And thus we encourage their criminal deeds. 

In this way does each 
Who does not reflect on his end. Such 

fellows, however, become 
Very frequently punished, indeed, and their 

power has a sorrowful end. 
No one will bear with them more; and 

thus, to the right and the left, 



CANTO XII. 



377 



Falls off from their bodies the hair. Their 

friends of the former days, 
Both little and big, recede from them 

now, and naked them leave, 
As did in a body the dogs, at once their 

companion forsake, 
When they had his injury seen, and noticed 

his badly used half. 

Gracious lord, you know very well that none 

can of Reynard so talk. 
For me shall my friends never have any 

reason whatever to blush. 280 
Accept for your favor my thanks, and if 

but I could, at all times, 
Learn with precision your will, I gladly 

would bring it to pass. 

Much talking will do us no good, responded 

to Reynard the king; 
To all I attention have paid, and know 

very well what you mean. 



37^ REYNARD THE FOX. 

You now as a baron I'll have in council 
again as before, 

And make it a duty of yours, at every 
season and hour, 

With my privy council to meet. And thus 
I restore you again 

Completely to honor and power, and this 
you will merit, I hope. 

Help all to be done for the best! I can- 
not you spare from the court. 

And if yon take care to combine upright- 
ness with wisdom, I trow 290 

That none will you ever surpass, or with 
greater acumen and skill, 

Advice and contrivances plan. I will, in 
the future, complaints 

Not hear about you any more; and ever 
shall you, in my stead, 

As chancellor speak and perform ; the seal 
of the empire, as well, 

Committed shall be to your hands, and 
what you may do or indite, 

Shall remain as indited and done. Thus 
fairly has Reynard again 



"With manifestations of grief, their friend on a stretcher they laid, 
And carried him out of the ring." 



GANTO XII. 



379 



Himself into favor propelled, and everything 

has to be done 
In accord with his counsel and will, be it 

either for evil or good. 

In thanking the king, Reynard said : My 

noble commander and prince, 
You grant to me honor too great, in mind 

I shall ever it bear, 300 
As I hope understanding to keep. That 

clearly by you shall be seen. 

What happened meanwhile to the wolf, let 
us briefly endeavor to find. 

Defeated he lay in the ring, and treated 
with insult and shame ; 

His wife and his friends to him went, as 
also did Tybert the cat, 

And Bruin the bear, and children and serv- 
ants and all of his kin ; 

With manifestations of grief, their friend 
on a stretcher they laid — 



380 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Which they had well padded with hay, in 

order to furnish him warmth — 
And carried him out of the ring. His 

wounds being seen to, they found 
That he twenty-six had received. A num- 
ber of surgeons arrived, 
Who bandaged him up out of hand, and 

administered curative drugs. 310 
He was crippled in every limb. They 

likewise applied to his ear 
A salve made of herbs, and loudly he 

sneezed both before and behind. 
They, after consulting, resolved to bathe 

him and rub him with oil. 
Such was the way that the wolf was 

cheered by his sorrowing friends ; 
They carefully put him to bed, and he 

slept, though not very long, 
But woke in confusion and grief ; his shame 

and the pain of his wounds 
Him greatly upset; he lamented aloud and 

seemed in despair. 
Him tenderly Greedimund nursed, though 

bearing a sorrowful heart, 



CANTO XII. 



381 



As she of his injuries thought. With 

manifold spasms and pains, 
There stood she and pitied herself, as also 

her children and friends; 320 
Then looked at the suffering man, and 

thought he could never get well ; 
He was raving with pain, his anguish was 

great, the sequel was sad. 



But Reynard, half crazy with joy, an 

agreeable gossip enjoyed, 
On various things, with his friends; he 

heard his own praises resound, 
And went in high feather from there. 

The gracious and worshipful king 
Sent with him an escort along, and heartily 

said, as he left : 
Come back again soon ! The fox on the 

ground then knelt at the throne, 
And said : I give you my cordial thanks, 

and also my lady the queen, 
Your council, and all of the lords. My 

sovereign master, may God 



3§2 REYNARD THE FOX. 

Many honors in store for you keep, and 

what it may be you desire 330 
I gladly shall do; I love you indeed, as in 

duty I'm bound. 
At present, if you will permit, I purpose 

to go to my home, 
My wife and dear children to see. who are 

sadly awaiting me there. 

Go at once, responded the king, you further 

have nothing to fear. 
And Reynard thus took himself off, raised 

higher in favor than all. 
Great numbers there are 'of his kind, who 

practice the very same art; 
Red beards do not all of them wear, but 

still are they kept out of sight. 

Proudly now Reynard withdrew, with all of 

his race, from the court, 
With forty relations, who felt much pleased 

at the honor received. 



CANTO XII. 



383 



Reynard stepped forth like a lord, the 

others all marching behind. 340 
He seemed in good spirits just then, his 

brush had much broader become, 
He had, by his luck and success, found 

favor again with the king, 
Was now in the council once more, and 

thought how to put it to use. 
All those whom I love, it shall aid, and 

benefit all of my friends, 
He resolved; more highly is wisdom, by far, 

to be honored than gold. 



Thus Reynard betook himself off, attended 

by all of his friends, 
Towards Malepartus his fort, whither now he 

directed his steps. 
Himself he showed thankful to all who 

friendship to him had displayed, 
And who, at the moment of doubt, had 

rallied themselves to his side. 
He offered his services now in return, as 

they parted and went, 350 



3§4 



REYNARD THE FOX. 



Each one of them all, to his own ; and he, 

when he came to his home, 
Found his wife, dame Ermelyn, well; she 

joyfully welcomed him back, 
About his vexations enquired, and how he 

again had escaped. 
All right, Reynard said, I came off! Once 

more have I managed myself 
Into favor to raise with the king; I shall, 

as in seasons gone by, 
In council again have my place, and this, 

for the whole of our race, 
Will to honor and glory redound. He has, 

as prime minister, me 
Appointed in presence of all, and to me 

has entrusted his seal. 
All Reynard may do or may write, shall 

now and for ever remain 
Exactly as written and done, and well may 

all bear this in mind. 360 

A lesson I've taught to the wolf, and not 
many minutes it took, 



CANTO XII. 



385 



So lie will impeach me no more. Sore 

wounded and blinded he is; 
And dishonored, the whole of his race; my 

mark I upon him have left. 
Small use after this will he be to the 

world. Together we fought, 
And I have come out on the top. I think 

he will hardly again 
Recover his health. What care I for that? 

Above him I am, 
And all of his comrades as well, who with 

him have taken their stand. 



His wife was now greatly rejoiced ; more 
resolute also became 

Both of his two little boys, at their father's 
promotion and fame. 

With joy to each other they said : Delect- 
able days we shall have, 370 

Respected and honored by all; meanwhile 
we must do what we can, 

Our citadel's strength to increase, and 
cheerful and fearless to live. 



386 REYNARD THE FOX. 

High honor has Reynard just now! And 

now unto wisdom let each 
Himself at once turn, all evil avoid, and 

virtue esteem ! 
This is the sense of the song, in which 

has the poet seen fit 
To mingle both fable and fact, that evil 

from good one may learn 
To winnow, and wisdom may prize; that 

buyers likewise of this book 
May daily instruction receive in the ways 

and affairs of the world. 
As in the beginning it was, is now and 

will ever remain. 
And thus doth our narrative end of Rey- 
nard the fox and his ways, 
The Lord in his mercy us help to glory 

eternal! amen. 381 



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